Tag Archives: Cookeville History Museum

The Cookeville Planning Commission approved the rezoning of land surrounding Dogwood Park from Local Commercial (CL) to Central Business District (CBD). Community Development Director Jon Ward said the impacted area includes Dogwood Park, the Cookeville Performing Arts Center, the Cookeville History Museum, the Putnam County Library, and a number of privately-owned businesses along East Broad Street. Ward said the area ... Read More »

Linda Henderson earned the Tennessee Association of Museums Award for Excellence in Volunteering after 15 years as a cornerstone of the Cookeville History Museum. Henderson completes research projects, leads tours, and mentors new museum docents. Museum Manager Beth Thompson called Henderson’s work “inspiring.” She said Henderson’s dedication has had a significant impact on the museum’s long-term success and the community ... Read More »

The Cookeville History Museum welcomes you to its latest microcar exhibit in collaboration with the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville. Lane Motor Museum Education Director Rex Bennett said microcars are unusually small vehicles that were made in Europe after World War II because they were easy to produce amid economic struggles. Bennett said microcars allow for a novel way to ... Read More »

Cookeville’s annual tree lighting holiday celebration returns to Dogwood Park Sunday night with the lighting of the brand-new 40-foot tree. Cookeville Mayor Laurin Wheaton said the tradition embodies everything that Cookeville is about. Wheaton said the celebration will include performances from school choirs, the TTU Trombone Choir, and Cookeville-based recording artist Jake Hoot. “Just taking a moment to pause and ... Read More »

The Cookeville History Museum is preparing for its eighth annual Christmas Forest exhibit to celebrate local non-profits, clubs, and civic organizations during the holidays. The exhibit allows the local groups to design their own custom Christmas trees that are displayed in an exhibit at the museum for the whole month of December. Museum Manager Beth Thompson said the event began ... Read More »

You can celebrate Richard Field Cooke’s 236th birthday Saturday. Cooke is the man Cookeville is named for. Education Specialist Ashley McKee said an actor will represent Cooke Saturday discussing history with patrons. She said Cooke was very influential in getting Cookeville established as the county seat. The museum will celebrate his birthday with refreshments and games including two scavenger hunts ... Read More »

Cookeville History Museum has a new exhibit highlighting the history of local fashion. Museums Manager Beth Thompson said that “What We Were Wearing: A Timeline of Cookeville Fashions” came about as a partnership with Hannah Upole of Tennessee Tech’s Department of Human Ecology. She said all of the pieces from the university’s historic costume collection. “And most of these pieces ... Read More »

Stories of Cookeville’s musical history will be on display at the Cookeville History Museum starting Saturday. Museums Manager Beth Thompson said new music to the city’s musical roots will be highlighted until September. Thompson said music is growing into one more point of pride for the area. “Of all the great things that we have that come out of Cookeville, ... Read More »

The Cookeville History Museum has a new exhibit that allows visitors to get a glimpse of WWII “Through the Lens of a Cookeville Soldier,” Gaskell Warren. Warren was an avid photographer, and his grandson Curt Warren said he inherited hundreds of photographs, including those from his time as a soldier in WWII. “There’s just so much to it that happened ... Read More »

Cookeville’s Pioneer Day will have a new look on Saturday to keep the event COVID safe. Cookeville Museums Education Specialist Ashley McKee said that usually pioneer demonstrations would be set up but this year will feature take home activities. McKee said she always enjoys an opportunity to help people learn, when they think they’re just having fun. “Wood whittling or ... Read More »