By Meghan E. Gattignolo One of the most important roles within any museum is that of the exhibit curator. They decide which exhibits go up and when, and which pieces of the museum’s collection are accessible to the public at any given time. So, what is it like working as an exhibit curator in one of…
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Cave Tours at Dunbar Cave State Park: Everything You Need to Know
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Once upon a time, Dunbar Cave was an exciting party hub on Clarksville’s hot summer nights. Though now past its heyday for dances and concerts, the cave is still a Clarksville gem. In 2005, researchers discovered something special on the cave walls. In the same chamber where people once gathered for parties…
Who is Red Grooms? A Tennessee Treasure & International Sensation
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Red Grooms is one of those artists you’ll never get out of your head once you’ve experienced his work. Just as quirky as his name, Red’s graphic pop art prints, 3-D lithographs, statues and mixed media images are bizarre, funny and wild. He’s been exhibited everywhere from the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in…
4 Downtown Clarksville Buildings and Their Past Lives
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Local artist David Smith and his wife came back from vacation one day inspired by something they encountered in the town they’d visited: signs posted on buildings with a photograph from a previous time, providing a little window into the past. A member of Clarksville’s Arts and Heritage Council, David…
David Smith: Documenting Tennessee’s Beauty
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Did you know Tennessee boasts 56 state parks, and over 500 waterfalls? Well, David Smith does, and he wants Clarksville and Fort Campbell residents to know how close they are to some of Tennessee’s most beautiful places. A retired veteran and local photographer, David Smith has made a name for himself…
5 Fun Ways to Enjoy the Wade Bourne Nature Center
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Not quite three years old yet, the Wade Bourne Nature Center opened its doors at Rotary Park in October 2020. Dedicated to outdoor enthusiast, writer and Clarksville-native Wade Bourne who passed away in 2016, the center is a wholesome treasure. Managed by Montgomery County Parks and Recreation, the Wade Bourne Nature Center provides…
Collections Spotlight: Antique Books at the Library!
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Everyone loves a good book, especially the really old ones you might find in a forgotten corner of a crowded bookstore, or on the bookshelves inside the study of a dusty mansion. If that’s your cup of tea, the Museum has got you covered with a new spotlight exhibit over…
Jump into Juneteenth: 4 Questions Answered
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Juneteenth hasn’t always been a national holiday. Though June 19 is the oldest celebration date for slavery emancipation in America, it’s the youngest federal holiday. Here are some facts about June 19 that every American ought to know. Why Juneteenth? Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 – the day the United States…
Saved by Slaves from the Flames of War
By Meghan E. Gattignolo In 1857, a local man named Thomas Yateman Dixon bought his soon-to-be wife Mary Elizabeth Raimey a new piano. He didn’t buy her just any piano, but a square grand piano made by the Haines Brothers of New York. The piano proved to be an exquisite wedding gift. Made in the Rococo…
Dive into Jazz
By Meghan E. Gattignolo Jazz. What sounds do you hear when you read the word “jazz?” What feelings does it stir in you? Is it appealing? Do you hear the dusky vibrations of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, or the chill vibes of modern jazz clubs? Do you hear the ocean, or a bustling city? Jazz has historically…