Highest-rated museums in Tennessee by visitors

Written by:
August 22, 2025
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Highest-rated museums in Tennessee by visitors

Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums . America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history,.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly.

With over in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Tennessee on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

1 / 30
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#30. Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (755 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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2 / 30
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#29. Coker Museum - Honest Charley

- Rating: 4.8/5 (209 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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3 / 30
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#28. Adventure Science Center

- Rating: 4.2/5 (676 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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4 / 30
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#27. Frist Art Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,036 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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5 / 30
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#26. Loretta Lynn's Ranch

- Rating: 4.5/5 (539 reviews)
- City: Hurricane Mills
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6 / 30
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#25. Hollywood Star Cars Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,472 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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7 / 30
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#24. Carnton

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,766 reviews)
- City: Franklin
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8 / 30
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#23. Tennessee State Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,009 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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9 / 30
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#22. Bush's Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,253 reviews)
- City: Dandridge
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10 / 30
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#21. Hollywood Wax Museum

- Rating: 4.0/5 (2,780 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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11 / 30
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#20. Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,443 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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12 / 30
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#19. Creative Discovery Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,011 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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13 / 30
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#18. Cooter's Museum and Store Nashville

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,103 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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14 / 30
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#17. Carter House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,401 reviews)
- City: Franklin
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15 / 30
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#16. Pigeon Forge Gem Mine

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,184 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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16 / 30
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#15. Stax Museum of American Soul Music

- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,239 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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17 / 30
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#14. Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,269 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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18 / 30
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#13. Alcatraz East Crime Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,894 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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19 / 30
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#12. Cheekwood

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,483 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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20 / 30
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#11. Lane Motor Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (986 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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21 / 30
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#10. Lotz House Museum

- Rating: 4.9/5 (3,483 reviews)
- City: Franklin
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22 / 30
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#9. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,898 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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23 / 30
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#8. RCA Studio B

- Rating: 4.7/5 (4,381 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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24 / 30
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#7. Nashville Parthenon

- Rating: 4.3/5 (4,948 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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25 / 30
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#6. The Johnny Cash Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,197 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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26 / 30
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#5. National Civil Rights Museum - Lorraine Motel

- Rating: 4.8/5 (9,253 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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27 / 30
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#4. Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

- Rating: 4.6/5 (5,906 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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28 / 30
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#3. Titanic Museum Attraction

- Rating: 4.6/5 (11,281 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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29 / 30
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#2. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,736 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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30 / 30
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#1. Graceland

- Rating: 4.5/5 (20,559 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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