Knoxville Area Museum Educators Roundtable
The following museums and historic homes offer organized education programs to which teachers can bring their classes:
American Museum of Science and Energy
115 Main Street East, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
865-576-3200 | https://amse.org/education/
With over 20 programs for grades K – 5, AMSE Outreach has something for everyone. These exciting, educational enrichment opportunities can be used to reinforce classroom instruction or to introduce a new topic.
Blount Mansion
200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
865-525-2375 | www.blountmansion.org
This “house with many eyes” witnessed the birth and growth of Knoxville, housed Tennessee governors and prominent families, and later became slum housing on the Knoxville riverfront. It was saved by early preservationists from destruction, and survives today to tell the stories of Tennessee’s birth and growth.
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge
461 W. Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
865-482-1074 | http://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/teachers/
Since 1973, the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge has provided educational programs and exhibits with an emphasis on play and hands-on learning for all ages and backgrounds in the arts, environmental studies, history, and the world cultures that inspire, enrich, and improve the lives of East Tennessee children and their families. Resources for educators include school group tours, traveling trunks on a variety of topics, and online lesson plans and other resources.
East Tennessee Historical Society
601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37901
865-215-8828 | www.easttnhistory.org
Explore three centuries of compelling stories, interesting artifacts, and colorful characters in the nationally-recognized exhibition “Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee.” Explore your own history and heritage in the premiere regional genealogy research library and the Knox County Archives. Check out regularly changing exhibits and browse the Museum Shop for gifts, books, and souvenirs.
Girl Scout Museum at Daisy’s Place
Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
1567 Downtown West Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37919
865-688-9440
We’re proud to offer guided tours, casual browsing, hands-on exhibits, memorabilia, a large collection of vintage Girl Scout uniforms, and more. You may also visit us at www.facebook.com/GirlScoutMuseumAtDaisysPlaceKnoxvilleTN
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
123 Cromwell Drive, Townsend, TN 37882
865-448-0044 | https://gsmheritagecenter.org/
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is East Tennessee’s premier facility for out of the classroom, hands on learning. Travel back in time to learn about Cherokee culture and the migration of European settlers.
Historic Ramsey House
2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914
865-546-0745 | www.ramseyhouse.org
Ramsey House was built in 1797 by Knoxville’s first builder, Thomas Hope, for Francis Alexander Ramsey. The structure is significant for original interior and exterior architectural features and its period decorative art collection. The Ramsey Family was one of the first families to settle the Knoxville area. They played vital roles in developing civic, educational and cultural institutions. Colonel Francis A. Ramsey was one of the founding trustees of Blount College, now the University of Tennessee. One of his sons, Dr. J.G.M. Ramsey authored an early history of the state, The Annals of Tennessee. Another son, William B.A. Ramsey, was the first popularly-elected mayor of Knoxville.
Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
The University of Tennessee, 1640 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996
865-974-0931 | http://bakercenter.utk.edu
Lesson plans are available.
Ijams Nature Center
2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920
865-577-4717 | www.ijams.org
Ijams Nature Center is a nonprofit, 315+-acre educational center for all ages, abilities and walks of life. Ijams’ mission is to encourage stewardship of the natural world by providing an urban greenspace for people to learn about and enjoy the outdoors through engaging experiences. Ijams features 12+ miles of hiking and mixed-use trails, a public river dock, swimming, boating, climbing, mountain biking and more. The nature center offers hundreds of educational programs and events for all ages, from day camps and school field trips to monthly hikes, birding programs, live music and movie nights. Ijams partners with River Sports Outfitters to provide paddle rentals on Mead’s Quarry Lake and the Tennessee River, and partners with Navitat Knoxville, a fun, tree-based adventure park. The Ijams grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. until dusk. The Ijams Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Knox County Museum of Education
Located in the Sarah Simpson Professional Development Technology Center (former South High School), 801 Tipton Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920
865-579-8264, ext 5
KCME is a hands on museum dedicated to collecting and displaying historical items and memorabilia pertaining to all Knox County Schools, past and present. Come visit Monday through Friday to learn about your school’s history and relive your school day memories.
Knoxville Museum of Art
1050 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916
865-525-6101 | www.knoxart.org/teacher-resources
The KMA celebrates the art and artists of East Tennessee, presents new art and new ideas, serves and educates diverse audiences, and enhances Knoxville’s quality of life. Richard Jolley’s Cycle of Life, the world’s largest figural glass installation, is on permanent display.
Mabry-Hazen House & Bethel Cemetery
1711 Dandridge Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
865-522-8661 | www.mabryhazen.com
The Mabry-Hazen House Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located atop Mabry’s Hill in Knoxville, Tennessee. Built in 1858, three generations of the same family resided in the Italianate-style home overlooking downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee River, and Great Smoky Mountains. The museum showcases one of the largest original family collections in America with over 2,000 original artifacts on display. Furnished and decorated in the style of several decades, Mabry-Hazen gives a rare view into 130 years of Knoxville history. Learn about the origins of Knoxville’s iconic Market Square, the bitter divisions of the Civil War, the infamous 1882 Gunfight on Gay Street, a mountain city in the New South, the scandalous 1934 breach of promise and seduction trial, and much more through the rich, colorful lives of the Mabry and Hazen families.
Marble Springs
1220 West Gov. John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920
865-573-5508 | www.marblesprings.net
Marble Springs State Historic Site is the last remaining home of John Sevier. Born in Virginia in 1745, John Sevier made a name for himself as a Revolutionary War Hero during the Battle of Kings Mountain (1780), a key player & Governor of the short-lived State of Franklin (1784-1788), and ultimately was elected to serve as the first Governor of the State of Tennessee (1796). Marble Springs was the approximate 350 acre farm that Sevier lived on from 1801-1815, the last years of his life. Sevier named his farm Marble Springs because of the Tennessee Rose Marble that was quarried on site and the natural springs that flowed on the property. While visiting Marble Springs, you will have the opportunity to tour several historic structures that are designed to represent various aspects of John Sevier’s life & times. These structures include: The Tavern, The Loom House, The Smoke House, The Spring House & the John Sevier Cabin and detached kitchen.
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture
The University of Tennessee, 1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996
865-974-2144 | http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu
The McClung Museum shares stories and facilitates the exchange of ideas to awaken curiosity in service of the University of Tennessee and communities connected to Tennessee. Exhibitions explore the archaeology, geology, biology, and artistic expressions from Tennessee and around the world. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, and in association with the Smithsonian Institution. Located on the UT Campus. Free parking. Free admission.
Muse Knoxville
516 N Beaman St, Knoxville, TN 37914
865-594-1494 | www.themuseknoxville.org
A children’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) museum, located in historic Chilhowee Park next to Zoo Knoxville with educational exhibits, play spaces and a full-dome planetarium.
Old Gray Cemetery
543 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917
865-522-1424 | www.oldgraycemetery.org
Take a walk through Knoxville history. Established in 1850 as part of the Rural Cemetery Movement, the 13 acres contain many examples of Victorian art and architecture. Named for the English poet Thomas Gray, author of Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, the cemetery is a place of serenity and beauty.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
700 Hall of Fame Dr. Knoxville, TN 37915
865-633-9000 | www.wbhof.com
The Hall of Fame offers education programs for kindergarten through fifth grade students in the subjects of math, science, language arts, social studies, and physical education. Programs are rooted in the standards of the state of Tennessee education and most use basketball to reinforce these concepts. During your two-hour trip to the Hall of Fame, students will tour the museum, be presented an education program, and have time to play on the ballcourts
Zoo Knoxville
3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914
865-637-5331 | www.zooknoxville.org
Zoo Knoxville is committed to sharing ‘wildly fun’ experiences that educate and inspire. The Zoo features acres of creative habitats for more than 800 of the world’s most fascinating animals. See giraffes, elephants, and gorillas as you travel through grasslands of Africa. Ride a camel and feed a giraffe! Open year round.
This information is provided by members of the Knoxville Area Museum Educators Roundtable.