Local Museums On Learning Your Community’s History

Upper Cumberland museum members are still busy spreading the importance of history during the pandemic.

Cookeville Museum Education Specialist Ashley McKee said part of learning about history is you can’t move forward if you don’t know where you’ve been.

“This is definitely one of the first pandemics that we’ve had to encounter, but older people have had to go through similar travesties with war and depression and recessions. We now have the technology to reach out to them and make it available to everybody,” McKee said.

Virtual tours of the museum available through their Facebook page. McKee said educational outlets have become more creative in outreach, especially those without internet access.

The Cookeville History museum has found online outlets to continue education. McKee said she reads a story and posts it on social media every Friday morning.

“I follow up with a second video where you can do a small activity with it, whether it be a puzzle or a drawing. I’m trying to think of things that people are limited on resources right now, and really art supplies,” McKee said.

Fentress History Museum President Martha Whiley said it’s important for residents to know about the community’s history.

“We’ve had a lot of things in our history that have been very difficult, and we have come through it. I think that’s something that people can see this is something that happens from time to time,” Whiley said.

The Fentress Museum has closed in order to maintain the community’s safety. Whiley said during this time some remodeling is being completed to the building.