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 March at the Museum include Waiting Room: A Print Series by Belgin Yucelen, Elena Burykina: Brushed Expressions, The Poetry Around Us: Women Painting the Outdoors, The Odyssey of Burt High School Book Event, Storytime & Craft, Recycled Robots, Watercolor for Kids.
Customs House Museum Exhibits
Waiting Room: A Print Series by Belgin Yucelen
March 3rd – May 30th | Harvill Gallery
Created by the artist during the 2020 shutdown, Waiting Room is a print series depicting people in isolation and their windows to the outside, beyond reach. Originally from Turkey and now based in Colorado, Belgin Yucelen’s art remains true to the desire to create meaning and beauty in subtle simplicity.
Elena Burykina: Brushed Expressions
March 3rd – May 21st | Jostens Gallery
Elena Burykina is a figurative artist based in Chattanooga. As a child in Ukraine, she received a classical art education which she used for over a decade as an architect. Now as a full–time artist, her focus is portraiture, where she seeks a connection with the model to explore their personalities, moods and thoughts.
The Poetry Around Us: Women Painting the Outdoors
March 4th – May 28th | Crouch Gallery
Capturing the beauty of the outdoors across painting mediums and geographical locations, this invitational exhibit features works of art from more than a dozen award–winning, nationally–recognized women artists.
Extracurriculars: Activities at Burt High School
Through February 26th | Harvill Gallery
Burt High School operated from 1923 to 1970 and was the only all–Black high school in Montgomery County, serving as a bedrock in the community. Take a look back at these school days, and share some school memories of your own, in this Collections Spotlight.
Maria D’Souza: From Dreams
Through March 26th | Orgain & Bruner Galleries
Using the world’s most iconic animals as the raw form, Maria D’Souza combines design, color, and dimension to create beaded skull works that stylistically range from western to contemporary.
Art of the Horse
Through April 9th | Kimbrough Gallery
This invitational show features a variety of 2D and 3D works of art inspired by the equine. Artists include Jill Soukup, Mary Ross Bushholz, Sandy McDaniel, Rox Corbett, Anni Crouter, and more.
A Woman’s Room
Through April 16th | Lobby
From hairpins to high heels and anything in between, check out this selection of artifacts from the Museum collections pertaining to women’s fashion.
Museum Events
First Thursday Art Walk
March 2nd | 5:00pm – 8:00pm | Free to the public
The Museum offers free admission during First Thursday Art Walk from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Philly King food truck will be serving up delicious eats in the Courtyard.
The SS Clarksville Victory and Her Seagoing Cowboys: Healing the Wounds of War
March 16th | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Free to the public; does not include Museum admission | Turner Auditorium
The SS Clarksville Victory, named after the city of Clarksville, Tennessee, made seven trips to Europe after World War II delivering livestock to Poland and Greece for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). In an illustrated talk, Peggy Reiff Miller will bring to life the story of the men, dubbed “seagoing cowboys,” who tended the animals on these voyages. Some of the first civilians to enter Europe after the war, their service helped to rebuild a broken world.
Mission: Nutrition
A Children’s Health Fair
April 1st | 1:00pm – 4:00pm | All ages
Free with membership or paid admission | Museum’s Lower Level
In partnership with students of Public Health at Austin Peay State University, the 2023 Children’s Health Fair features a variety of programming related to nutrition and healthy eating. Learn about everything from local crops to cuisines around the world, adding color and variety to your plate and much more with hands–on activities throughout the Museum.
Museum Programs
Storytime & Craft
March 2nd & 16th | 10:30am | All ages, with adult
Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio
Join us in the Family Art Studio to read our favorite children’s books and create fun-themed crafts!
*All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
Spring Break at the Museum
We’re hosting a series of creative skill–building programs for kids at the Museum from Tuesday, March 7th to Thursday March 9th. Space is limited – registration opens soon at customshousemuseum.org!
Recycled Robots
March 7th | 10:30am – 12:00pm & 2:00pm – 3:30pm | Ages 5+
Free with membership or paid admission; registration required | Coca–Cola Café
Learn about recycling everyday items and giving them new purpose by making your own recycled robot! What does your robot look like and what does it do? This creative activity uses imagination, concentration and problem–solving skills.
Watercolor for Kids
March 8th | 10:30am – 12:00pm (Ages 5–7) & 2:00pm – 3:30pm (Ages 8–12)
Free with membership or paid admission; registration required | Coca–Cola Café
From broad backgrounds to fine details, practicing painting improves hand–eye coordination and boosts motor skills. Get creative and experiment with watercolors!
Make Your Own Seed Paper
March 9th | 10:30am – 12:99pm & 2:00pm – 3:30pm | Ages 5+
Free with membership or paid admission; registration required | Coca–Cola Café
Seed paper is a fun way to save your seeds for planting. We will use a selection of annual and perennial wildflower seeds that will invite honeybees, ladybugs, hummingbirds, butterflies and other beneficial pollinators to your yard.
Family Art Saturday: Textured Tree Painting
March 25th | 10:00am – 12:00pm & 2:00pm – 4:00pm | Ages 3+, with adult
Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio
We’re welcoming the spring season with works of art – use unconventional tools likes Q–Tips and cotton balls to stamp your tree to life!
*All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains
Exhibit open daily
Trains run Sundays 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Wednesdays 10:00am – 12:00pm, Fridays 10:00am – 12:00pm and the last Saturday of each month 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Enjoy one of the largest model railroad layouts in the region boasting a miniature castle, UFO and scenic landscape. Interact with the miniature world by making automobiles move and helicopters fly. The model train exhibit is open daily and themes change every season.
Seasons: The Museum Store
Puzzle Sale
Offer expires March 31st, 2023
All jigsaw puzzles are buy one, get one 40% off throughout the month of March! Discount applied to lesser amount; no other discounts apply.
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 5:00pm.
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
