Description: This is definately not your typical museum. I almost didn't go, but I'm really glad that I did. It is a 19-acre urban park created to commemorate the 200th year of Tennessee statehood. It is completely outdoors except for the giftshop.
We started at the huge granite map of Tennessee in the concrete walkway in the shadow of the capitol building. The map depicts all the major roads in the state as well as the counties and large cities. My 8-year old son enjoyed walking around the map and trying to figure out all of the places in Tennessee we have already visited. It gave him a vivid picture of the state. I'm sure that this will help him as he studies the states next year in 3rd grade.
We then walked under the railroad tressel which is appropriately integrated into the museum to a large fountain which represents each of the 31 major rivers in Tennessee. From there we drove around and looked at a huge timeline of Tennessee history all the way from pre-history up through 1996. This would have made a great walk, but it was raining the day we went. We chose to drive. The time-line symbollically crumbled when it reached the period of the Civil War. When it reached World War 2, there was a nice memorial to the soldiers from Tennessee. I especially liked a large granite world globe which seemed to float as it spun.
At the end of the plaza was a 95-bell musical carillon which played Tennessee sons on the hour. There were also some time capsules placed in the ground at the museum during the 1996 200 year celebration.
The museum is open daily. It is definitely worth stopping to take a look. Allow about 30 minutes or so to see it all.
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