Open Travel Guide
History of Tennessee

Tennessee History & Heritage Guide 2026

The history of Tennessee told through its places: sites worth the detour and the context they need.

Tennessee has 8+ historical sites covered in this guide, led by National Civil Rights Museum (Lorraine Motel), Shiloh National Military Park and Carter House (Battle of Franklin Site). Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Tennessee is the Volunteer State, a land where Appalachian mountain mist meets Mississippi Delta soul. From the neon honky-tonks of Nashville and the legendary blues clubs of Beale Street to the ancient hollows of the Great Smoky Mountains and the white-water rivers of the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee delivers an extraordinary range of experiences. Home to more live music per capita than almost any state, birthplace of country, blues, and rock-and-roll, and blessed with stunning natural landscapes, Tennessee is a destination that rewards every type of traveler.

Historical sites

Places where Tennessee's past comes alive.

Historic

National Civil Rights Museum (Lorraine Motel)

Where: Memphis Downtown

Admission: Adult: $20 USD | Child: $15 (5–17 years)

Historic

Shiloh National Military Park

Where: Hardin County

Admission: Adult: $20/vehicle or $10/person USD | Child: Free under 15

Historic

Carter House (Battle of Franklin Site)

Where: Franklin

Admission: Adult: $18 USD | Child: $8 (6–12 years)

Historic

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

Where: Nashville suburb (Hermitage)

Admission: Adult: $30 USD | Child: $16 (5–12 years)

Historic

Tennessee State Capitol

Where: Nashville Downtown

Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free

Historic

Museum of Appalachia

Where: Norris, Anderson County

Admission: Adult: $17 USD | Child: $6 (5–16 years)

Historic

Lookout Mountain Battlefield (Point Park NPS)

Where: Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga

Admission: Adult: $5 USD (NPS fee) | Child: Free under 15

Historic

Graceland (Elvis Presley's Estate)

Where: Memphis

Admission: Adult: Elvis Experience Tour $47 USD; Platinum Tour $95 USD | Child: $20 (7–12 years)

Museums

Curated collections that tell Tennessee's story.

Museum

Tennessee State Museum

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 AM–5 PM; Sunday 1–5 PM; closed Monday

Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free

Museum

Pink Palace Museum (Memphis)

Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9 AM–4 PM; Saturday 9 AM–5 PM; Sunday noon–5 PM; closed Monday

Admission: Adult: $15 USD | Child: $11 (3–12 years)

Museum

Tennessee Valley Authority (Norris Dam State Resort Park)

Hours: Dam: open 24 hours; Park office: 8 AM–4:30 PM daily

Admission: Adult: Free day-use | Child: Free