Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Manager  The lowly nutcracker served as the theme for Seasons’ Noel Night 2021. Captivating pieces of bric-a-brac and common holiday décor in the United States, nutcrackers are traditionally carved from wood. They can take on the likeness of a variety of characters, but most commonly an 18th century soldier. So, why does a tool for opening nuts evoke holiday sentiment? With their lipless toothy grin and battle attire, they seem more…

Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator  One local legend buried in Greenwood Cemetery was a force of nature all on her own. With all the charms of a stern but beloved grandmother, Anna Mabry Barr made a name for herself during Fort Campbell’s early years. Anna carved out a very deliberate path caring for soldiers after losing everything in her personal life.  The relationship between Anna and Fort Campbell began in 1941. At the onset of World War…

Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator Many actors will say that if they must leave this world, let it be on stage. Frank Sutton nearly did, meeting his end right before a live stage performance in 1974 at the Beverly Barn Dinner Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana. The audience left the venue in shock and sadness after they were told of Sutton’s death and that they would have…

Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator If you live near Peachers Mill, Tiny Town, Trenton or Needmore Roads in Clarksville, it’s not a revelation that auto racing is a favored sport in the county. You are already familiar with the reverberation and roar of the track on warm summer nights, even if you have never bought a ticket yourself. For years, the Museum…

Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator Downstairs in Jostens Gallery, Museum visitors will find an evocative art exhibition. C. Douglas Charlton’s Out of Darkness: Purgatory, Mayhem, Color, Love, Hate, Light and Tomorrow dazzles the walls with acrylic emotional expressions.    Part of the charm of experiencing a new art exhibit is searching for reasons an artist titles their collection the way they do. I like to look for clues as to what emotions an artist is feeling…

Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator Museums and libraries are wonderful places for parents who want to keep their kids’ minds active over the school break – and for kids who just want to have fun. For this reason, it is important that institutions like the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center remain accessible…

Written by Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator For many of us, exploring a national park with our family is the source of some of our happiest childhood memories. Families have been traveling to parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon for decades. These national treasures have been the inspiration for many artists through the…

Written by Molly LaRocco, Membership Coordinator The Museum’s membership program is at the heart of the organization. Without our members, we cannot fully express our mission and vision. The Museum’s membership program began over 30 years ago and has continued to be an integral part of our organization.  Annual membership holders receive 12 months of free admission to your Museum and hundreds of museums around the…

By Meghan Gattignolo, Visitor Services Coordinator The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center offers many distinct exhibits throughout the year, but one experience you will only get here at our Museum is the Annual Staff Art Show. Usually, those of us employed at the Museum work around other people’s creative expressions, but once a year,…