Arts, History & Culture

Jackson has a rich artistic and historical background that is attractive to both visitors and residents. Today, visitors to Jackson can discover the work of emerging artists at locally owned art galleries, take a stroll through eclectic downtown Jackson, visit a Civil War battlefield, or catch a performance by The Jackson Symphony.

The Jackson Symphony
(731) 427-6440
www.jso.tn.org

The Jackson Symphony is in its 46th season of providing musical programs. The orchestra and its affiliated ensembles perform for over 30,000 people each year. The Symphony employs 65-70 musicians who perform 13 annual full orchestra performances, including a seven-concert subscription series. Each year in August, the Symphony offers “Starlight Symphony,” a free concert that is held on the grounds of the historic Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Additionally, The Jackson Symphony presents internationally known guest artists and provides performance opportunities for aspiring young soloists.

Art Galleries

Art Under a Hot Tin Roof
114 E. Lafayette Street, Downtown Jackson
(731) 427-2772
www.artunderahottinroof.com

Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

This beautifully restored art gallery in downtown Jackson features one-of-a kind art, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, glass and furniture.

GlassSmiths Studio of Tennessee
1407A N. Highland Ave.
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 423-2255

GlassSmiths Studio of Tennessee is the stained glass studio for artist Lee Gaugh. Lee and his staff design and construct stained glass windows for churches, homes and businesses, sell stained glass tools and supplies, teach classes and offer a large assortment of glass gift items. Business hours are 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Marguerite’s Art Gallery
24 G Federal Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
731-664-3940

Marguerite’s features artwork from local and regional artists, with a wide selection of items including paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, clothing and furniture. Visitors may find artists at work in the studio or a group of children learning the joy of art or a birthday celebration for young and old alike. Business hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

West TN Regional Art Center
1200 Main St., Humboldt
(731) 787-1787
www.wtrac.tn.org

The only permanent fine arts museum between Memphis and Nashville, the West Tennessee Regional Art Center houses the collection of Dr. Benjamin and Gertrude Caldwell to provide an opportunity for all to experience and learn about the arts. This diverse collection of fine art features styles ranging from American Colonial, American Impressionism, and Abstract Expressionism to Folk Art and African sculpture. Call for hours

Wildlife in Wood Studio
Casey Jones Village
I-40, Exit 80A
(731) 668-2782

Woodcarving and sculpture by master woodcarver H. Dee Moss. Life-size bald eagle carving on premises. Commission pieces, prints and one-of-a-kind wood sculptures. Watch wood hand carved and turned into a one of a kind masterpieces by master carver Dee Moss. An renowned artist and acclaimed wood sculptor, Dee Moss has a variety of prints, decoys and wooden art in his charming studio. Take home a one of a kind wood carving of your favorite wildlife creature.

Local Theatre

Jackson Theatre Guild
314 E. Main , Downtown Jackson
(731) 427.3200
www.jtgonline.com

The Jackson Theatre Guild has been a fixture in Jackson for more than 40 years. The Guild performs five shows a year, including one musical, at the Ned R. McWherter Cultural Arts Center (The Ned) in downtown Jackson.

Jackson Children & Teen Theater
314 E. Main, Downtown Jackson
(731) 425-8396
www.jacksoncentre.com

Children and teens perform in five productions each year, including two musicals, an annual Christmas show, and a children’s show.

Jackson State Community College Theater
(731) 424-3520
www.jscc.edu/academics/cfa/theatre.htm

The Jackson State Community College Theater offers one production each semester. Community members are invited to participate in productions.

Lambuth University Theatre
(731) 425-3235
www.lambuth.edu

The Lambuth University Theatre presents a series of plays that are experimental, original and intellectually challenging in combination with a variety of performances by professional performing artists.

Lane College Theatre
(731) 426-7500
www.lanecollege.edu

Lane College Theatre presents two productions a year, open to the community. The cast members are usually Lane College students, but sometimes include area K-12 students and senior citizens.

Union University Theatre
(731) 661-5105
www.uu.edu/events

The Union University Theatre offers four major productions, a student-directed show and an alumni production annually.

The Ned Subscription Series
(731) 425-8395
www.jacksoncentre.com

The Ned Subscription Series features performances from several noted acts in a variety of genres.

Festivals & Events

African Street Festival
(731) 267-3212
www.saaca.com

Held each year on Labor Day weekend at Jackson Fairgrounds Park, 800 South Highland Avenue. The event features R&B, jazz, gospel and reggae music, international and local merchandise and food vendors; African art; fashion shows; children’s hut; African drummers and dancers and more.

Bagels & Bluegrass Bicycle Century Tour
(731) 616-7474
www.bagelsandbluegrass.tn.org

The Bagels and Bluegrass Ride across Southwest Tennessee is a bicycle ride featuring Southwest Tennessee’s State Parks and scenic roads. The 100-mile route has a total climb of greater than 7,000 feet. The ride begins with a breakfast of bagels at the staging area located at Jackson State Community College. Featured stops include Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Area and Chickasaw State Park. End the day with dinner at the college. For additional information, call (731) 616-7474 or visit www.bagelsandbluegrass.tn.org.

Bemis Reunion Days
Bemis Theatre
(731) 424-0739
/www.bemishistory.org

Held the third weekend of each May at the Bemis Theatre, Bemis Reunion Days is hosted by the Bemis Historical Society. The event features class reunions, music, exhibits, food, and fellowship.

Casey Jones Old Time Bluegrass Festival
(731) 742-2921
www.caseyjones.com
The annual celebration of traditional music…bluegrass, mountain and country unite from all walks of life to preserve old-time music.

Celtic Fest
www.cswt.org

Held the first Saturday of November at Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre. Features musical entertainment, vendors, great food and fun. Sponsored by the Celtic Society of West Tennessee, a non-profit organization with a goal to enlighten those of Celtic ancestry.

Ghost Tales of Jackson
(731) 427-7379

d n English and Premier Players present Stories of the Spirits of Downtown Jackson; held between the Court House & City Hall on Main Street in Downtown Jackson (Madison County) at sundown (6:30 p.m.). Bring a chair and an open mind. Free admission. In case of rain, the event is held at Farmers Market, Shannon Street at Lafayette.

International Rock-A-Billy Music Festival
(731) 427-6262
www.rockabillyhall.org

Held each year in August, the festival includes live performances by history making rockabilly artists, and tours of the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame.

Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant
Carl Perkins Civic Center
www.misstennessee.org

The Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant is held each June in Jackson at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.

NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship
www.naia.jackson.tn.us
(731) 616-7474

Each year in March, Jackson welcomes women’s basketball teams from across the nation to participate in the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship. The tournament is held at Oman Arena.

Pinson Mounds Archeofest
state.tn.us/environment/parks/pinson/
(731) 988-5614

Held in September each year. Visitors to Archeofest step into thousands of years of history with an educational celebration of the Native American culture with various tribal representation from across the U.S. Native American dancers, singers, storytellers, traditional foods and various crafts make this a great experience for all.

Salem Cemetery Battlefield Annual Dedication
Cotton Grove Road
Bemis, TN
(731) 424-1279
On the morning of Dec. 19, 1862, approximately 1,500 Confederate cavalry, along with Freeman’s Battery, under the command of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, clashed in a two-hour battle with about 1,000 Federals under the command of Col. Adolph Engleman. Each year mid-December, the Salem Battlefield Association holds a dedication ceremony at the site of the battle on Cotton Grove Road.

West Tennessee Boat, Sport and Travel Show
www.jacksonboatshow.com/2009/index.php
(731) 584-7880

Held every year in February at the Carl Perkins Civic Center and Jackson Fairgrounds Park, this show is sure to help families beat the winter doldrums and shop for summer fun. On display are bass boats, pontoon boats, ski boats, deck boats, jon boats, fishing boats, personal watercraft, duck hunting boats, crappie rigs, small cabin cruisers, 5th wheels, pop-ups, pull-behinds, motor homes, ATVs, and more.

A variety of vendors from over a dozen states offer tackle, hunting supplies, accessories, resort destinations, marine accessories and repair and an emporium of shopping choices.

USJ Holiday Mart
www.usjbruins.org/parents/holidaymart.html
(731) 668-4573

Kick off the holiday season with unique gifts, fresh baked goods, antiques, delicious food and much more at the annual USJ Holiday Mart.

West Tennessee Antique Car Show & Swap Meet
(731) 668-2863

Sponsored by the West Tennessee Antique Car Club, this event is held each May in downtown Jackson. Registration until 12 noon, early judging starts at 10 a.m. For cars 25 years and older. 26 antique classes, other classes as required. Registration is $25 for first car, $10 for each additional car.

West Tennessee State Fair
Jackson Fairgrounds Park
400 S. Highland Ave.,
Held every year in September
(731) 424-0151
www.wtsfair.com

West Tennessee's annual tribute to a great American institution. The fair includes a midway, games, exhibits, pageants, live music, great food and much more!

Museums

Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum
56 Casey Jones Lane, Jackson
(731) 668-1223 or (800) 748-9588
www.caseyjones.com

The life of John Luther 'Casey' Jones, a courageous railroad engineer, is highlighted at the Casey Jones Home & Museum, which features the restored home of the engineer and a life-size replica of the famous 382 locomotive. Attractions include the Old Country Store, an 1890s-style ice cream parlor and soda shop, a 500-seat restaurant, a train store, an amphitheater, Wildlife in Wood studio, The Shoppes at Casey Jones Village and the Southwest Tennessee Tourist Information Center.

Discovery Museum
315 E. Lafayette St.
Downtown Jackson
(731) 422-6333

An educational, enjoyable experience for the entire family. The museum features interactive children’s exhibits, historical exhibits, Cousin Tuny memorabilia, and alternating exhibits throughout the year.

Cotton Museum of the South
Green Frog Village
Hwy. 412. S.
Bells, TN
(731) 663-3319

With the charm of a rural antique southern village, Green Frog features dining, shops, a country church, an arboretum, log buildings, and a one-room schoolhouse. The 1915 cotton gin is being made into a museum.

The International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame, Inc.
105 Church St., Downtown Jackson
(731) 427-6262
www.rockabillyhall.org

Open weekdays, Saturday by appointment. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving and promoting rockabilly music through films, audiotapes and memorabilia. A new park has a huge guitar on display and a mural on one wall of the museum.

Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Depot
582 S. Royal St., Downtown Jackson
425-8223

Visit the place where railroad history was made. A place where politicians gave "whistle-stop" campaign speeches and Jackson's hometown heroes left for war. The Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Depot, built in 1907, was designed to complement nearby Lancaster Park with its beautiful gardens, mineral wells, baseball park, and fairgrounds. The Depot has been turned into a museum as a tribute to the impact of the railroads on the growth of Jackson and Madison County.

The museum houses a permanent collection that includes photographs, artifacts, and related memorabilia associated with railroad and local history. Museum hours are Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m and by appointment. Free admission.

West Tennessee Cultural Heritage Museum
428 E. Main St., Downtown Jackson
(731) 265-9800

Open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tours by appointment. Displays include a collection of old radios and radio equipment. Browse memorabilia and photographs of James E. Wolfe Jr., president and CEO and founder of the museum; his wife, R&B/soul musician Denise LaSalle; and celebrities they have known.

West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center
I-40, Exit 56
121 Sunnyhill Cove, Brownsville
(731) 779-9000
www.haywoodcountybrownsville.com

Early blues musicians Sleepy John Estes, Yank Rachel and Hammie Nixon are known throughout the world for their music, as is Tina Turner for her rock music and Alex Harvey for his country lyrics. These are just a few of the artists who have called Brownsville-Haywood County home and are featured in the Music Museum Room at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. The center, which also houses the Hatchie River Museum Room, considered to be the welcome center for West Tennessee, representing and offering information about other West Tennessee counties to visitors as they leave I-40 at Exit 56.

Casey Jones Village Events

Featured in Southern Living magazine, Casey Jones Village is one of Tennessee’s Top 10 Tourist Attractions! The Village offers many exciting events throughout the year:

Songwriter’s Depot
On the 4th Thursday of the month, Songwriter's Depot features Nashville's finest singer/songwriter's performing live bringing you the story behind the song of some of country music's greatest hits.

Casey Jones Barbershop Chorus
3rd Tuesday night of the month at the Old Country Store

Saturday Nights in the Barnside Room
Music Highway Band - 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. www.musichighwayband.com

Casey Jones Hobo Gathering
Held in April each year, the Casey Jones Hobo Gathering celebrates the history and culture of the American hobo and their long association with railroading. Features an opportunity to meet national hobo royalty, enjoy entertainment around the campfire and see hobo crafts. Festivities include a meet and guide with the Hobos from and a campfire with the hobos.

Casey Jones Day
Casey Jones Day celebrates April 30, 1900, the date of the start of Casey Jones legend and the anniversary of his famous last ride.

Casey Jones Old Time Music Festival
This unique two-day music festival is held in September each year in the Casey Jones Amphitheatre. The festival features old time string music, bluegrass, and gospel music, delicious food, arts and crafts and much more.

Annual Christmas Eve Breakfast

Celtic Fest
www.cswt.org

Held the first Saturday of November at Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre. Features musical entertainment, vendors, great food and fun. Sponsored by the Celtic Society of West Tennessee, a non-profit Organization with a goal to enlighten those of Celtic ancestry.