How to Celebrate Black History Year-Round in Tennessee

Media use only photos here courtesy Tennessee Tourism.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Updated March 4, 2026 – Tennessee has 17 locations along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The state is also home to famous writers, music legends and talented photographers. Learn their stories at these destinations to celebrate Black history year-round in Tennessee.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga

The Bessie Smith Cultural Center, founded by empowering visionary leaders from Chattanooga, pays homage to the late “Empress of the Blues” Bessie Smith. The center preserves and celebrates African American history and culture through art, education, research and entertainment. Exhibits incorporate technology, interactive kiosks and a children’s education corner. The new exhibit “Chattanooga’s Black Soundtrack” highlights local artists, like Usher Kane Brown and The Impressions.

Pro-tip: Stop by the Blue Goose Hollow Trailhead along the Tennessee Riverpark to see the "Unearthing Boldness" sculpture, honoring the life and legacy of Bessie Smith.

Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville

The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is a historic community treasure dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting artifacts and evidence of contributions relating to history and culture of African Americans in East Tennessee and America. The center creates immersive educational experiences to promote learning for present and future generations. From arts and culture to attractions, restaurants, breweries and businesses, here are additional ways to celebrate Black history in Knoxville.

Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton

Learn about the courageous stories of the Clinton 12, who bravely fought for equal access to education. Green McAdoo Cultural Center shares he legacy of what happened in 1956 and how it shaped the students and the community. Step inside a 1950s classroom and follow the chronological story of desegregation at Clinton High School, the first integration of a public high school in the South, with life-size photographs and narratives.

Jefferson Street Sound Museum in Nashville

Jefferson Street Sound Museum is one of the newest Tennessee sites along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The museum in Nashville showcases how music, culture and activism intersected. During the 1940s-1970s, Jefferson Street stood as a vibrant hub - home to clubs, studios and venues where artists like Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles, James Brown, Tina Turner, Little Richard and countless others performed. Jefferson Street and its artists played a central role in shaping both Nashville’s musical legacy and the Civil Rights Movement. Today as a museum, it offers both musical and educational programming that celebrates the R&B sounds that once flourished in Nashville, along with a fully functioning music studio.

Pro-tip: Learn about Tennessee's 17 sites along the Trail and listen to firsthand stories from the TN Civil Rights Trail podcast.

Ruby’s Happy Farm in Cross Plains

Ruby’s Happy Farm was built on family legacy land and named after the family matriarch. Ashley Brooks is the third generation of her family to farm this land and opened the property to the community in the inaugural Juneteenth Festival. 2024’s event, “Ruby’s Happy Farm Feel Good Festival,” is slated for June 22, 2024 and will include vendors, entertainment and presentations on agriculture, history and wellness, including beekeeping, self-care, small farm operations and a history of Juneteenth.

Promise Land in Charlotte

Founded in the 1870s by formerly enslaved African Americans, Promise Land is one of Tennessee’s most significant Reconstruction-era Black communities. Today, the site preserves stories of resilience, land ownership, faith, and self-determination through guided visits, cultural programming, and ongoing preservation efforts—offering a powerful, immersive look at post-Civil War Black history that remains deeply relevant year-round.

Mclemore House Museum in Franklin

The McLemore House, purchased by former enslaved man Harvey McLemore in 1880, was a model of community development in Hard Bargain, the first African American middle class neighborhood in Franklin consisting of carpenters, teachers, masons and farmers. The house is now a museum promoting cultural and historical preservation, celebrating the rich African American heritage of Franklin and Williamson County.

National Museum of African American Music in Nashville

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in the heart of Music City is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the music genres created, inspired or influenced by African Americans. Interactive exhibits allow guests to write a blues song, sing with a gospel choir, learn dances, do a rap battle and learn about jazz, blues, rap, pop and stories of renowned artists like Isaac Hayes, Beyonce, Rihanna, Prince and others. NMAAM is located in Fifth + Broadway, where travelers should also get a taste of Slim & Husky’s, an artisan pizza shop with a love for hip hop R&B culture. Here are ways to explore Black history in Nashville.

Soul Collective in Jackson

Soul Collective is a vibrant entrepreneurial collective dedicated to uplifting Black and minority-owned businesses through education, networking, and cultural events. It offers business incubation, workshops, markets, and social programming that celebrate arts, culture, commerce, and community empowerment in the heart of downtown.

Pro-tip: Skillet Junction is a beloved Black family-owned brunch restaurant in downtown Jackson, TN, run by the Richmond family where “breakfast meets lunch” with creative comfort dishes made with love. Inside the same historic Neely House space, you’ll also find Peppermint Addie’s & co, a charming ice cream shop started by the Richmond’s’ daughter serving hand-made treats. Inside you’ll also find Pure Scent Essence Candle Bar, a hands-on boutique where visitors can shop for custom scents and enjoy candle-making classes and events

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis

Perhaps the very first stop you should make during your black history pilgrimage is the National Civil Rights Museum. Located at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the balcony on April 4, 1968, this important museum is filled with Civil Rights history, and its comprehensive exhibits showcase 260 artifacts and interactive media to cover five centuries, from slavery in America and the Civil War to the 20th-century Civil Rights movement and modern-day issues. The Legacy Building opens in Spring 2026.

*Pro-tip: Memphis is the unique, culturally rich and diverse city it is today thanks in large part to African American achievement throughout the city's 200-year history. A Tour of Possibilities and Heritage Tours explore African American history in Memphis, from the Civil Rights Movement and music legends to historic churches and world famous Beale Street.

Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School in Brownsville

The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner, was born in Nutbush, made famous with her hit song, “Nutbush City Limits.” Turner attended school in a one-room schoolhouse in Brownsville, one of the first schools built in the South for African Americans. Visitors to the Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School, located on the grounds of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, explores the largest known collection of Tina memorabilia, costumes and stories. While visiting Brownsville, savor local favorite Black-owned business, Helen’s Bar BQ, where Helen Turner works as one of the few female pitmasters in the country.

Alex Haley Museum & Interpretive Center in Henning

The childhood home of author Alex Haley, who wrote the groundbreaking novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, is located in Henning. “Roots,” which was made into a landmark TV miniseries in 1977, was inspired by family stories young Alex heard on the porch of his home. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Alex Haley Museum & Interpretive Center’s exhibits feature Haley’s work, childhood memorabilia and references to people who inspired the characters in “Roots.”

ABOUT TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties. TDTD’s global marketing efforts increase visitation to Tennessee, which boosts tax revenue, creates jobs and attracts new investment across the state. Tennessee is a global destination of choice offering visitors world-class music, live entertainment, family-friendly experiences, charming communities, innovative and classic culinary creations, renowned scenic beauty and outdoor adventure—all centered at the crossroads of rich history and unrivaled hospitality. Vacations “sound perfect” in Tennessee. Visit TNvacation.com and follow @TNvacation on social media for travel inspiration.

Media Contacts:

Jill Kilgore

Jill.Kilgore@tn.gov