Museum of Appalachia

The Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, Tennessee, showcases over 30 historic log cabins and structures, preserving Appalachian heritage through artifacts and live demonstrations.

Planning your visit

John Rice Irwin spent decades buying up the contents of Appalachian farms and homesteads as their owners died or left, and the Museum of Appalachia is what he assembled — over 30 relocated log structures on a farm at Clinton, Tennessee, furnished with the tools, furniture, instruments and personal effects of the people who used them.

What distinguishes it is the labelling. Irwin recorded who owned each object and what happened to them, so the displays carry names and stories rather than generic descriptions — this fiddle belonged to this man, who made it from this wood, and here is what became of him. The effect is cumulative and unexpectedly moving.

The folk art collection includes work by self-taught makers, and the musical instruments reflect a region whose string-band tradition fed directly into country and bluegrass.

Live demonstrations, animals and the Tennessee Fall Homecoming festival extend the programme.

It is around thirty minutes from Knoxville. Allow three hours. The main booking is an entry ticket. Current availability is listed below.