Customs House Museum & Cultural Center

06/01/2026

This family moment has been preserved in a sepia tone and is a glimpse into everyday life more than a century ago. 🤎

On this , we want to share this with you as the world observes International Children's Day and the Global Day of Parents.

We love to celebrate the families, caregivers and children whose stories have been shaping our communities, their history and diverse cultures.

This photograph from our collection, dating between 1890–1915, captures a family gathered outside a log structure, with two children and a bicycle in the background.

06/01/2026

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is excited to take part in the June Artwalk on June 4th, offering free admission, new exhibits, and a special appearance by Whit McMahan as Abraham Lincoln.

Drink Dispatch and Doodles Panini will be at the Museum.
Bring your families, friends, and students for an evening filled with art, history, and community.

Visitors can explore a wide range of exhibitions, including “Freedom: A History of US”, “Celebrating Samoa”, “The Tennessee Watercolor Society Biennial Juried Exhibition”, “The Blueprints of 1898”, and “Travelin’ Around & Layin’ It Down: Watercolors of Chuck Creasy”, along with many others.

The Museum will be open and free to the public during the Artwalk on June 4 from 5 to 8 p.m.

More about Whit McMahan
Whit McMahan’s lifelong admiration for the Sixteenth President began in childhood. Growing up in the county where Jefferson Davis was born, he often visited Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky, during family trips. His connection to Lincoln deepened over the years, but his story took a meaningful turn in 1991 when, after growing a beard, he was frequently told he resembled the former President. What began as teasing soon revealed a calling.

05/30/2026

Join us! Denny Jiosa and his full band will be playing Jammin' in June on June 13 at the Customs House Museum. Here's a message from Denny Jiosa inviting you to the show... Tickets on sale here: https://customshousemuseum.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/customshousemuseum/event.jsp?event=84710&

05/30/2026

Happy Saturday!

Mark your calendars for History on the Rocks on June 10 from 5:30–7 p.m. in the Taproom at Blackhorse Pub & Brewery to celebrate the launch of the summer issue of Second & Commerce.

Enjoy specialty cocktails inspired by stories from the magazine, including the Bittersweet Symphony and Presidential Spritz, while connecting with fellow history lovers, readers, and supporters of local culture.

We look forward to seeing you there!

05/30/2026

Today, the scaffolding is going up to repair our historic roof from 1898, but the Customs House Museum is still open. Stop by and see our award-winning art exhibitions; historical stories about Clarksville-Montgomery County and the remarkable people who have contributed to our community; Explorers Landing with the Bubble Cave, a puppet show area, grocery store, and so much more for kids of all ages; the giant Lego wall in the Family Art Studio; and the Huff n Puff Express interactive model train village. Explore, learn, and create at the Customs House Museum.

05/30/2026

Today is Fifth Saturday Donation Day: May 30, 2026. Any month with five Saturdays, on the fifth Saturday ANY monetary donation to the Customs House Museum is your admission. All donations directly support the Museum in creating educational programming for children and adults, preserving our historical collection and supporting our award-winning exhibitions.

05/29/2026

We love seeing all that students are learning about Wilma Rudolph in Clarksville-Montgomery County and in middle TN! Visit the Customs House Museum to see our exhibition on our hometown hero, and schedule a field trip to the museum with Stephanie Stafford, our Curator of Education, who will lead you through the details of Wilma's remarkable legacy. Contact Stephanie at [email protected] for info about field trips.
https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/clarksville-classroom-wilma-rudolph/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASG16FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEex_A54GMi61Lqr7JysEiu6G7Szwv3wgo_h1Fy-fi94zVSHsXOuBd6QGcZiI8_aem_MuUgfgkjfbDIkKTqsJu1dw

Mrs. Tracy Garza-Bramel’s third grade classroom at East Montgomery Elementary School came alive with inspiration as students learned about their hometown hero, Wilma Rudolph.

05/29/2026

Save the Date, Clarksville!

August 8, 2026, at 5 p.m. for Flying High at Oak Grove, Racing & Gaming Hotel - A NIGHT IN CAPRI - Chase the end of Summer... Italian Style.

Hosed by the Museum Guild, Flying High is the Customs House Museum's annual premier fundraiser, and we're excited to partner with Traditions First Bank - thank you for being the title sponsor of Flying High 2026!

Tickets go on sale June 9, 2026.

More details coming soon.

05/29/2026

Last week, the Clarksville Civitan welcomed Shana Thornton, our Marketing & Media Manager at the Customs House Museum, for a presentation on the enduring legacy of Dr. Robert Tecumseh Burt and Emma Williams Burt.

Through their contributions to health care, education, and civic life, the Burt family helped shape the history of Clarksville.

They continue to inspire our community today.

At the conclusion of the program, the Civitan Club surprised Shana with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her dedication to various communities in Clarksville and Montgomery County, and local history.

We are always grateful for opportunities to share these important stories and to connect with organizations that help keep Clarksville’s history alive.