Clarksville, TN – The Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is located in historic downtown Clarksville, Tennessee. Come explore an entire city block featuring large gallery spaces filled with fine art, science and history.
Some of the events in October at the Museum are: Halloween Past, The Modern Whimsy of Aaron Grayum, 120th Anniversary of Lui Heimansohn, Plane Clarksville, Tammy O’Connor: Hand Shadows, Olen Bryant: Tennessee Treasure, Sixth Annual Laying Low Fundraiser, and Model Trains Fall Break Special.
Exhibits
Halloween Past
October 1st – November 6th
Get into the Halloween spirit in Memory Lane! Spooky objects from the Customs House’s collection give a glimpse into the holiday’s past with vintage costumes, toys, postcards, and a hearse.
The Modern Whimsy of Aaron Grayum
October 4th – October 30th
Work by Nashville artist Aaron Grayum is on display in our Peg Harvill Gallery. His whimsical and colorful paintings, with elements such as balloons and birds, are designed to inspire the inner child.
120th Anniversary of Lui Heimansohn
October 1st – January 5th
Heimansohn Steel and Salvage is a full service steel and scrap metal business located in Clarksville, Tennessee. Explore 120 years of their history in The Leaf Chronicle Lobby.
Plane Clarksville
September 14th – November 27th
Learn the local story of Frank Adkins, U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II. Objects from the museum collection will be on display, including model planes and medals.
Women Painting Women
August 5th – October 23rd
Women Painting Women promotes the work of contemporary female artists working in the figurative tradition who focus on women as their subject matter. This exhibition features nine artists from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
Tammy O’Connor: Hand Shadows
August 8th – October 23rd
This body of work by Tammy O’Connor is comprised of whimsical characters created with glass and shadows. The project is reminiscent of the many storytelling moments the artist experienced as a child with her family.
Olen Bryant: Tennessee Treasure
August 11th – October 16th
Sponsored in part by Planters Bank
Art by well-known local artist Olen Bryant will be on display. The exhibit features sculptures from the CHM&CC Permanent Collection as well as additional work on loan from other sources. Working in clay, wood and stone, Bryant creates masterful figures that are stylized, bold, timeless, totemic, authoritative, introspective and, at the same time, consoling.
Eric Hansen: Dollhouses from the Collection
August 16th – October 23rd
The series of dollhouse photographs on aluminum by the award-winning photographer Eric Hansen are on exhibit.
Activities
First Thursday Art Walk
Thursday, October 6th, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center will be open with free admission from 5:00pm – 7:00pm during Clarksville’s First Thursday Art Walk. Start your Art Walk here! Produced by The Downtown Clarksville Association, First Thursday Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour that combines visual art, live music, engaging events and more in the heart of Downtown Clarksville.
Sixth Annual Laying Low Fundraiser
Saturday, October 8th, 5:00pm
The Customs House Museum presents the sixth annual Laying Low fundraiser. This casual, outdoor event features beer, live music by The Nightmasters, BBQ grub from John’s Chicken & Ribs, and a cornhole tournament ($25.00 per two person team; register at check-in). Enjoy this opportunity to share the fun with fellow supporters of the Customs House Museum while helping us further our mission.
This year’s event takes place at Daffodil Hill, 2100 Madison Street. Tickets are $50 each and are on sale now: purchase by calling 931.648.5780 or online at layinglow2016.eventbrite.com
Second Saturday Free Admission Day: Let’s Make Shadows
Saturday, September 8th, 10:00am – 4:30pm
Admission and activities are free all day from 10:00am – 5:00pm as part of our Second Saturday Free Admission Day. Visit the Children’s Art Room to learn more about hand shadows, a centuries-old form of entertainment.
You, too, Can be a History Detective!
October 9th, 2:00pm – 2:40pm
Using 70 years’ worth of clues, Ms. Sue will show you how anyone can become a history detective. This family activity is recommended for adults and for children eight years and older.
Model Trains Fall Break Special
October 11th – 14th, 11:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Catch our model trains running at special times during Fall Break! Our train volunteers have the layout decked out especially for Halloween.
Making Paper Airplanes
October 11th, 10:00am – 11:00am
See model planes and learn about the heroics of Frank Adkins in our Plane Clarksville exhibit. Be sure to stop by the Children’s Art Room to try your hand at making different styles of paper airplanes to see which ones fly the furthest!
Art for Young Children: Stripes & Splotches
October 12th & 13th, 10:00am – 11:00am
Your school-age children are invited to join us for this guided art experience while on Fall Break.
Aluminum Foil Sculpting
October 14th, 10:00am – 11:00am
Check out the clay, wood, and stone sculptures of Olen Bryant in our Tennessee Treasure exhibit and stop by the Children’s Art Studio to sculpt your own works of art using aluminum foil!
Halloween Fun
Sunday, October 30th, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
We’re having some good fun to celebrate Halloween! We’re reading funny Halloween stories at 1:15pm, 2:15pm, and 3:15pm in the Turner Auditorium. Make silly Halloween hats from 1:00pm – 4:00pm in the Children’s Art Room. Activities, and Halloween candy for ages 12 and under, are free with paid admission or museum membership. Halloween themed model trains are also running from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Don’t forget to see the exhibit Halloween Past, with vintage costumes, toys, and a hearse!
All activities are free with your museum membership. Non-members pay regular admission fees. For more information contact Ms. Sue at sue@customshousemuseum.org or 931.648.5780.
Closings
The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center will be closed Monday, October 10th for Columbus Day.
About the Customs House Museum
Located in the heart of historic downtown Clarksville, Tennessee, the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center is the State’s second largest general museum. The original portion of the building was constructed in 1898 as a U.S. Post Office and Customs House for the flourishing tobacco trade. Incorporating a number of architectural styles, the original structure is one of the most photographed buildings in the region.
With over 35,000 square feet of the region’s best hands-on activities and special events…people of all ages agree – the Customs House Museum is well worth the stop!
The Explorer’s Gallery is packed with fun, learning and fantasy in Aunt Alice’s Attic, McGregor’s Market and kitchen, and of course – the Bubble Cave! Finally, get “all aboard” to see our fantastic model trains. Our volunteer engineers “ride the rails” every Sunday afternoon from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Regular museum hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, and 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sundays. Adult admission is $7.00, Senior Citizens and College ID $5.00, Ages 6 to 18 $3.00, and under six years and Museum members are free.
The Customs House Museum is located at 200 South Second Street. For more information, call 931.648.5780 or visit their website at www.customshousemuseum.org
