Museum Updates, Summer 2026

By: Sydney May, Co-Director

July 10, 2026

The Greeneville-Greene County History Museum is in the middle of one of the largest exhibit transformations in recent years. Thanks to funding through a Tennessee 250 grant, we have begun creating a brand-new permanent gallery that will explore the history of Greene County from pre-colonization through the Civil War. This new space will tell a more

complete story of our community while creating engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.

As with any major renovation, some exhibits will be temporarily relocated or reimagined while construction is underway. We appreciate your patience as we work behind the scenes to improve the museum for years to come.

A New Permanent History Gallery

Work has officially begun on our newest gallery. The former Veterans Gallery has been carefully dismantled to make way for a completely new exhibit that will interpret Greene County's earliest history, beginning with Indigenous communities, and continuing through settlement, statehood, and the Civil War.

Although this gallery has closed, many of the veteran artifacts remain on display throughout the museum while we develop a new, dedicated veterans exhibit.

Image caption: First left image is of the Veterans Gallery before closure. Additional images are of the main hallway outside of the Veterans Gallery, which will be cleared for updates.

Creating space for the new exhibit requires moving several collections throughout the museum. Over the coming months, visitors may notice display cases being relocated, hallway exhibits changing, and galleries evolving as we make room for new experiences.

The Pet Milk exhibit is being relocated and updated with a refreshed display upstairs, while several other collections are finding new homes throughout the museum.

Image caption: First top image is of the upstairs hallway before closure. Additional images show the Pet Milk display from the main hallway being placed in its new location upstairs.

Veterans Exhibits

Rather than placing our military history in storage, we're creating new displays throughout the main hallway in the museum so visitors can continue to enjoy many of these important artifacts during construction.

Image caption: First two images show the deconstruction of the Veterans Gallery as staff prepares to begin construction later July. Additional images show the new veteran displays in the main hallway. Updates are still in progress, and more information and narration will be applied.

USS Greeneville Display

One exciting addition is our new permanent exhibit highlighting the USS Greeneville. This display celebrates the unique relationship between our community and the submarine that proudly carries Greeneville's name.

Image caption: First right image is of the Veterans Gallery before closure. Additional images are of the main gallery outside of the Veterans Gallery, which will be cleared for updates. Last image shows the USS Greeneville 30th Reunion crowd attending the USS Greeneville display reveal on July 4th.

Kids Gallery Improvements

Our hands-on children's gallery continues to receive major improvements. New flooring has been completed, and we're actively building interactive activities, installing wall features, and creating new educational experiences designed especially for young explorers.

Image caption: First left image shows the "before" of the Kids Gallery. This is intended for children to explore the lives, responsibilties, and roles of children during the early frontier era of East Tennessee. Major updates and repairs were needed in the space to ensure that kids can play safely while engaging in standard social studies. The middle image shows the process of replacing the floor. Last image shows the finished flooring. More updates will be made in the gallery over the next few months.

What's Coming Next?

As construction progresses, our Paleo to Pioneer gallery will eventually close so its stories and artifacts can be incorporated into the new permanent history gallery. Rather than simply replacing an exhibit, we're combining these collections into one larger, more cohesive experience that will allow visitors to follow Greene County's story from its earliest inhabitants through the Civil War in a single, connected journey.

We're excited to share updates as work continues. Follow us on social media or check back here regularly to watch the museum transform!