Customs House Museum and Cultural Center — Attraction in Clarksville

We have lived here 3 years and didn't know this place existed. Looking for things to do on TripAdvisor, we quickly found the museum as one of the higher rated indoor family activities. We love all types of museums so it was a no brainer. The military membership was only $10 more than the entry fee for one day, so we went ahead and bought the membership (only $30 for the family). So glad we did because we really enjoyed it. The artists featured were incredibly talented. Some of these artists really deserve to be shown in more than just a local, small town museum.

The facility was very clean, quiet and organized. The only issue was that we could not locate the Family Art Studio as it was shown on the paper map we were given and we had walked through the entire place with our eyes open. The kids were tired so we ended up not asking the staff where it was for the Rainbow Science drop-in activity. It obviously wasn't a huge deal breaker though.

The cafe was being used for a birthday party so we did not get to check it out and aren't sure of the daily hours and offerings.

The train room was very cute but I even being the only family in there, I did start feeling a little claustrophobic because of the narrow walkway between the wall and the massive display. Also not a deal breaker and I just moved on to the next room.

Some of the areas could do with better ventilation/fans as they were a bit stuffy but even so, there were no bad smells. Some of the rooms smelled like sweet tobacco ropes, which was actually quite enjoyable as was learning the history of tobacco in this area.

My kids are 9 and 14 and still had fun in the bubble room. The whole body bubble didn't work for us and the rope was sticky and kinda made me wanna bleach my hands after touching it, yuck. They do offer hand sanitizer in the entry to that room, thank goodness. My husband and my 9 year old had fun pretending to play shop and it was hilarious to watch them play "pretend" at their ages.

Lastly, the staff was so nice. I can't remember their names, but they were full of smiles and warm welcomes. The gift shop girl was very friendly and really seemed to love her job and that's always a plus.

Obviously we will be back when they change up the displays and will be telling others about this hidden gem downtown.

Also, my goodness, the outside of one of the buildings...

There is a free parking lot for museum visitors on south side of museum; on hill.

This is a great museum and I love that it has specialized areas for children and their families. They have a family art studio and area where the kids can explore the city by learning about different trades; plumbing, electricity, market etc. These areas are simply wonderful and if I lived in Clarksville I would bring my great nephews, frequently.

I didn’t know Wilma Rudolph was from Clarksville and Pat Summit. They have a great gallery dedicated to individuals in sports etc.

I absolutely love the ‘Fly Girls’ exhibit (Oct 13 - Jan 25, 2024) I had never heard of this group and felt so proud to see so many female pilots. These women are/were so inspiring and many lived long lives. I’m it sadly at least 2 dozen were killed while flying. I left wanting to know more about this organization and the women!! They pushed forward through the discrimination by men. Smh So sad that we live in a society where all are created equal but a few feeble minds decide they will create barriers for those who do not look like them!!

There is also an old log home on display after you pass through area that house old fire trucks. I absolutely love this and like that the wife of a family member donated house to museum.

There is also modern art on display plus an areas with model trains and track. The train runs at certain times so if you’d like to see the trains going around track check on website for times.

I highly recommend visiting...

If you want to learn everything thing you can about Clarksville and Fort Campbell, this is the place to go. The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center was a Federal Post Office in 1898 and Custom House. At that time, Clarksville had a huge international trade in tobacco. In 1983, it became the Clarksville-Montgomery Museum. It later became known as the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in 1996. It is now the second-largest general interest Museum in Tennessee.

I learned so much during my first visit in 2019. Saw a lot of amazing exhibits from local artists and brought friends to visit the museum with me. I encourage everyone visiting this area to come to this museum. Watching videos of Clarksville in the museum, the art, the interactive exhibits, and seeing the train were some of my favorite parts of the museum.

Free parking at the side of the museum, but it is limited.

On the first Thursday of the month, admission at the museum during 5-8 pm is free! This occurs during ArtWalk in downtown Clarksville.

Admission Rates: $12 Adults (18-64) $9 Adult Military, College Students, Seniors (65+) and CMCSS Teachers $5 Children (3-17) Free for children 2 and under Free for Museum Members

Hours 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesdays – Saturdays 1 – 5 p.m., Sundays Closed Mondays and...