Tennessee turns 223 on Saturday, June 1. To celebrate Tennessee’s Statehood, the Tennessee State Library and Archives is partnering with the Tennessee State Museum and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park to host a variety of events Saturday, June 1 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. CDT.
Attendees can see the constitutions, tour the state Capitol and Bicentennial Mall Park grounds, participate in a scavenger hunt, meet characters from the past, play historic games, listen to live music and enjoy birthday cake. Join them for a day of fun to celebrate Tennessee becoming a state!
Tennessee Constitutions
The Tennessee State Library and Archives will put all three of the state’s original constitutions on display to the public in commemoration of Statehood Day. The constitutions are typically protected in a vault, but all three versions will be in the Library and Archives’ lobby for viewing May 30 to June 1 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT. The Library and Archives is located at 403 Seventh Ave. N., directly west of the Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. Viewing the state constitutions is free. No reservation is required.
Workshop Series Presentation
The Tennessee State Library and Archives will host a free lecture on Tennessee’s constitutional history Saturday, June 1 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. CDT, the Honorable Judge Andy D. Bennett of the Tennessee Court of Appeals will present the history of each of Tennessee’s constitutions. Attendees can expect to learn details about the historical documents and what they meant for Tennesseans during that time in history. The workshop is free but advanced registration is required.
Capitol Tours
The Tennessee State Capitol Building will be open Saturday, June 1 for tours. Six tours will be offered throughout the day, with three led by Dr. Wayne Moore, Assistant State Archivist and author of the book “Tennessee State Capitol: Grounded in Tradition”, to be released summer 2019.
9:00 a.m. Tour with Tennessee State Museum staff
10:00 a.m. Tour with Tennessee State Museum staff
11:00 a.m. Tour with Dr. Wayne Moore
1:00 p.m. Tour with Dr. Wayne Moore
2:00 p.m. Tour with Tennessee State Museum staff
3:00 p.m. Tour with Dr. Wayne Moore
Tours of the State Capitol are free. No reservation is required. Attendees should enter at the West Entrance of the Capitol Building.
State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum will host a family history scavenger hunt, children’s crafts, and story time every hour in the Children’s Gallery. Statehood Day attendees are also encouraged to stop by the Tennessee State Museum at 12 p.m. for a slice of Birthday cake! Quantities limited.
The Tennessee State Museum is operating during normal business hours Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT. There is no admission charge to the State Museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions. For more information about exhibitions and tour times, visit the Tennessee State Museum website.
Bicentennial Mall
Bicentennial Mall State Park will have guided hikes, historic games, arts and crafts, and live music from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. CDT.
The 1796 Statehood National Trails Day hike will be offered from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. CDT. Park Rangers in historic dress will lead the hikes while educating participants on Tennessee’s history and providing information about our most famous Tennesseans. Guided hikes of Bicentennial Mall are free. No registration is required. Attendees should meet at the North end of the park.
The Bicentennial State Park will host “Sounds of Statehood”, a live music event 3 - 6 p.m. in the park Amphitheater featuring Bob Teague, Sonja Hopkins, Marcianne O’Day and Brain Salad.