Made in Tennessee

Today we are joined by Candice Roland Candeto, Senior Curator of Fine and Decorative Art at The Tennessee State Museum, who speaks with us about her work on an upcoming exhibition, “As We Wish To Be Seen: Portraiture Painting in Tennessee.”  Candice takes us through the development of three centuries of portrait painting in Tennessee, sharing new scholarship and resources. It's a fascinating...

Today we talk with Tara Spada and Larry Dahl who have been spearheading for the state museum the development of the new Military Veterans Museum. Tennessee has a rich history of military service. In fact, our nickname, “The Volunteer State,” alludes to that service.  Larry and Tara tell us about plans for the museum, their discoveries of collections uncovered in the museum's storage move and...

The form of Tennessee Music Box Dulcimers evolved from instruments brought down the Great Wagon Road and Wilderness Road by German and Scots Irish settlers. First appearing in Tennessee around 1900, many of these early dulcimers have been identified and archived by a small group of devoted historians, among them, Sandy Conatser.  Today, Sandy and Ryan Dooley, Senior Curator of Music at the Tenness...

Today we have a spirited conversation with Ryan Dooley, Senior Curator of Music at the Tennessee State Museum, about the history and artifacts of Tennessee whiskey. While you may have tasted Tennessee whiskey, you may know little about how it is made, how these products evolved in the nation and in our state, and what the state museum collects to interpret that history. Ryan also gives us the scoo...

Today we speak with Jeff Sellers, Director of Education and Public Programs for the Tennessee State Museum, about one of the biggest historical artifacts in the state, the State Capitol. How did Nashville attract the highly successful architect William Strickland to design this Greek Revival structure? Where did they source the raw materials and interior ironwork? Why does our capitol not have a d...

We continue our celebration of the country's anniversary today, talking with Miranda Fraley and Tranae Chatman, curators at the Tennessee State Museum, about the exhibition, “Tennessee Voices, American Stories.” The exhibition, which runs through the end of 2026, uses costume, textiles, and other material culture to explore the stories of some exceptional Tennesseans.  You may know all about...

Today we talk with Curator Stephen Wicks about two artistic brothers who were born in Knoxville -- Joseph and Beauford Delaney.  We learn about their roots in Tennessee, their national and international careers, and how a thoughtful collaboration of Knoxville's art patrons, historians, archivists and institutions made Knoxville a center for their work. We hope it inspires you to visit the Kno...

Today we learn the story behind the making of the soft drink Mountain Dew and its connection to Knoxville, Tennessee. We also learn about the graphic design behind the brand and its connection to Appalachian culture. And we learn a bit about the collectibles market for older bottles and signs. It's  a fascinating story and we guarantee you will learn something you never knew!

Today we are excited to be talking about samplers--needlework textiles created in the 19th century by young girls (and sometimes boys!) to teach them how to mend, monogram, and embellish their household fabrics. We speak with two textile experts, Julia Doyle, the curator of fashion and textiles at the Tennessee State Museum, and Jennifer Core, whose new book, Tennessee Samplers: Female Education a...

You might ask what art conservation has to do with Tennessee material culture, but the work Cynthia does not only keeps our state’s treasures in a stable form to last for generations, it also has given her a unique view and visual expertise when thinking about the formal aspects of Tennessee’s art history. We’re going to delve into that perspective and learn more about the role of a conservator an...

Welcome to our inaugural podcast!  Today we welcome Tracey Parks. Tracey is an avid student and collector of Tennessee decorative arts, and for the past thirty five years his research has specialized in the study of the furniture makers of the Volunteer state working before 1840. His in-depth investigation of the subject seeks to reveal the lives of craftsmen in context with their work and the wor...