Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo Halloween is almost here, and that means one thing – it’s spooky season! The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center’s collections team, Anna Woten and Kate Tallman, have curated a wonderful selection of odd and mysterious items to make your skin crawl, on display now in the Museum Lobby. Here’s…
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Frightening Figures: Can Spooky Dolls Come to Life?
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo Those glistening eyes, those rosy cheeks, the way the shadows fall just right to hide details of the face so that maybe – just maybe – you saw those eyes move. Perfectly painted porcelain faces have been creeping us out for a long time, but they weren’t always fuel for…
The Postmaster’s Daughter: A New Chapter for Sharon Mabry
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo Autumn is the perfect time to dive into a thrilling historical mystery novel written by… your music teacher? Dr. Sharon Mabry announced her retirement from Austin Peay State University as a professor in the music department last spring. Her astounding 52 years at APSU are unprecedented — Mabry was the…
Clarksville’s Man on the Hill: Gustavus Adolphus Henry, Sr.
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo When you read old Clarksville newspapers from the post-Civil War era, one name comes up a lot: Gustavus A. Henry. As a well-connected man throughout the 19th century, Henry filled a variety of roles during his long life and saw many changes in Kentucky and Tennessee along the way. Gustavus…
5 Fun Facts About A.H. Patch All Clarksville Residents Should Know!
A.H. Patch, from the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center Archives Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Manager Asahel Huntington “A.H.” Patch is a historical figure every Clarksville resident should know. Patch was an inventor and businessman who never gave up on success, despite a life full of false starts and financial struggles. His Black…
Don’t Miss Our Annual Staff Art Exhibit
Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Manager Oh, it’s a wonderful time of year! While the heat of this summer has been overwhelming, inside the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center the air is blissfully cool and our annual staff art exhibit is on display! This annual show has been a community favorite for years….
Randy Spurgeon: Museum Man
Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Manager Every museum needs a Randy Spurgeon. With his calming personality, top-shelf dad jokes and intense sci-fi pop culture knowledge, Randy exists in his own category. He has worked as Exhibit Preparator under Exhibit Curator Terri Jordan at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center for 23 years, since…
Check Out the Clarksville Walking Tour on Historic Franklin Street
Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Manager If you’ve spent time in Downtown Clarksville over the past year, you may have noticed a woman in a 19th-century dress walking around. That’s local tour guide Summer Sasarita performing her Clarksville Walking History Tour! Summer hails from Salina, Kansas – she started life in the Midwest, but…
The Power of Free Play
Written by Meghan Gattginolo, Visitor Services Manager “Let’s play” are two words that ruled my childhood, and maybe yours too. Time, technology and misplaced priorities have changed many kids’ experiences of childhood. Free, unstructured playtime has been in decline for a long time. Shuttling kids to myriad activities such as karate, soccer, ballet and extra…
Seollal: Celebrating the Korean Lunar New Year
Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Manager South Korean culture is strong in Clarksville. Clarksville residents are fortunate to have access to delicious and authentic Korean food and nearby Korean markets. The military presence at Ft. Campbell means that Korean culture has been flourishing in our town for decades. Over the last few years, Clarksville has…