This sampler by 14-year-old Richard Artemus Stegall Jr. is a rare example of a sampler made by a young boy. When Stegall’s mother fell ill, she taught him embroidery at her bedside. Stegall created this sampler in Roane County in 1861. See it now in "Samplers and Young Women."

Finished up 3 days of intro to Fredrick Douglass with 8th grade! Dug into interactive map/timeline with Padlet, quilt block connections, picture book walks, and items from Tennessee State Museum! RockyForkMS

In 2014, when Nashville Sounds stadium was built, archaeologists found artifacts from Native Americans who lived there 800 years ago! On the Junior Curators blog, learn more about the artifacts found and the people who lived there during that time: bit.ly/4moLIpI

Dedicated 100 years ago #OnThisDay in 1925 as a monument to Tennesseans who died fighting in WWI, War Memorial Building in Nashville has been a bastion of fidelity at the southern foot of Capitol Hill. Look back at its history and upcoming renovations: bit.ly/41XJgzl

Guests explored 19th-century photography with Sam Reed from The Vacant Chair Photography Studio during Photography Day! Reed gave a live wet plate collodion demo from start to finish as he completed a portrait in real time. Don't miss the #PhotographyInTN exhibit at the Museum!

The Fall 2025 newsletter is online! 📖 In this issue, we look back on a century of the War Memorial Building and feature the latest acquisitions to the Museum’s collection, Tennessee America 250 events, virtual field trips for students, and more. Read ➡️: bit.ly/3KANRkV

Pianos were valuable instruments and symbols of class status and respectability. Pictured is a woman and child at a piano in Roane County in the 1890s, courtesy of Tennessee State Library & Archives. Explore more: tnmuseum.org/tennessee-play… #NationalPianoMonth #TheTNPlaylist

U.S. Congressman Rep. John Lewis was inspired by "Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story" and other comics to become involved in the Civil Rights movement. This publication recounts the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956. #NationalComicBookDay

This Premo Senior camera was used at the Calvert Brothers and Taylor studio in the 1890s, which was located at 4th and Union in Nashville. It could either be hand-held or used with a tripod, and it recorded images on glass plates or film. See it on display in #PhotographyInTN.

Did you know a coffee-loving Nashville local forever changed the way we enjoy our morning brew? ☕ When Joel Cheek turned his passion into Maxwell House Coffee, he introduced the world to coffee that’s “good to the last drop.” Read more: bit.ly/3h5mD20 #NationalCoffeeDay

New to the Museum's collection: 📷 The Matilda Franklin Collection — Rare 19th-century photographs tell a complex story of Black labor in Tennessee. ✈️ Col. Keith Allbritten’s 118th Air Wing Collection — Honors decades of service. 🔗Read more: bit.ly/3KtqFW4

Thank you to Nashville Scene for highlighting our exhibition, #PhotographyInTN. Arts Editor Laura Hutson Hunter calls the exhibit "insightful and surprisingly current" while delving into the stories behind the photographs. Read the article here ➡️: bit.ly/46uuWB2

This unique 1857 friendship sampler was made by Mary Ann Pass of Blount County as a gift for Betty Smith, who was likely a cousin. It now serves as a touching record of the closeness between the girls, a relationship that may have otherwise gone unrecorded.

John Ross, Cherokee leader, was born #OnThisDay in 1790 in Alabama. Ross fought tirelessly to protect Cherokee lands, even as others signed them away. Learn about Ross and his efforts to preserve and protect the Cherokee Nation on our Junior Curators blog: bit.ly/3c1kDao

Each year, the TN Writers | TN Stories: Author Talks at the State Museum series wraps up at the Southern Festival of Books. This year’s selection is the latest novel by "Nothing to See Here" author and "New York Times" bestseller Kevin Wilson. Learn more: bit.ly/4o1df1I

Please note‼️: on Saturday, October 11, 2025, the American Cancer Society will be holding their annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Due to street closures and other access issues, the Museum will open at 12:00pm that day to visitors. We thank you for your patience!

Though early photography could not capture the true color of clothing, garments from the period show the popularity of color and patterns, as well as decorative trims and embroidery. This 1860s girl's dress is an excellent example of these popular elements. #PhotographyInTN

Mark your calendars! 🎃 On Saturday, October 25, the Tennessee State Museum will celebrate its 27th annual Haunted Museum Storytelling Festival. It offers families a free, fun and safe Halloween event for children of all ages. Read more: bit.ly/4gZnqBU

This sampler was created at the Brainerd Mission School in 1823 by Nancy Reece, a young Cherokee girl. The school was established in 1816 along Chickamauga Creek near present-day Chattanooga with education aimed to “civilize” the Cherokees according to missionary standards.

The Museum has added some amazing pieces to our collection, including portraits of Rev. Jeremiah Burns and his daughter, Thomas Neel Olhausen’s WWII Collection, and a State Flag that literally went to space and back with astronaut Barry Wilmore! More: bit.ly/4nQHwkp