CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center would like to announce the upcoming exhibits, programs, and updates:
Exhibitions
Cave Johnson & James K. Polk, Through October 7 | Harvill Gallery, James K. Polk was elected to the Tennessee state legislature in 1823 and then to the United States House of Representatives. He became Speaker of the House in 1835, the only person to serve both as Speaker and U.S. president. Polk left Congress to run for governor of Tennessee, winning in 1839. Cave Johnson served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives (1829-37, 1839-45), postmaster general of the United States (1845-49), and president of the Bank of Tennessee (1854-60). Exhibit includes borrowed artifacts and those from the collection. This exhibition is sponsored by F&M Bank and is part of the Customs House Museum’s celebration of America’s 250th.
Still Lifes, Shifting Narratives: The Hyperrealistic Paintings of Sharon Harms, Through October 22 | Bruner & Orgain Galleries. In the hands of Nashville-based artist Sharon Harms, the still life genre becomes anything but settled. In Still Lifes, Shifting Narratives, Harms presents a body of work that honors the still life tradition while reimagining its purpose by transforming the arranged object from passive subject into active narrator. The things Harms selects — anatomical models, vintage toys, typewriters, glass figurines, advertising ephemera — function simultaneously as personal relics and cultural artifacts, evoking individual memory and collective experience at once. They are chosen intuitively, not for their decorative potential but for their symbolic resonance and their capacity to mean more than they appear. The result is a body of work in which the still life is not an endpoint but a doorway to a space where the viewer is invited to complete the story. In this, Harms adds to the genre’s long conversation with storytelling through the symbolism inherent in inanimate objects. Her paintings ask what it means to arrange objects with such exacting care, and what those arrangements quietly confess. The answer is that nothing in her work is simply still.
Piecing the Past: Quilts from the Collection, Through October 25 | Crouch Gallery. A selection of quilts and quilting materials/items from the collection will be on display as well as unique items on loan from the Clarksville community. This exhibition is sponsored in part by F&M Bank in connection with America’s 250th.
Toys from the Collection, Opening October 3 | Lobby. Toys from the Customs House Museum’s Collection.
Stories in Lacquer, Opening October 5 | Jostens. Lacquer paintings on wood emerged in Russia in the first half of the 18th century. Russian lacquer miniature art began in Danilkovo and Fedoskino near Moscow, initially producing papier-mâché snuffboxes. After the 1917 revolution, displaced religious icon painters adapted their fine tempera and gold-leaf skills to decorate functional items, expanding into boxes, panels, and wearable art like brooches across four distinct village traditions. These four villages (schools) were Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstyora, and Kholui. This exhibition showcases lacquer boxes and brooches from all four schools; as well as, icons, stacking dolls, and decorative plates – all from a private collection.
The Chestnut Group: 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Opening October 7 | Kimbrough. The Chestnut Group is committed to preserving Middle Tennessee’s natural habitats, landscapes, and historic properties, and as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit based in Nashville, they celebrate the tradition of outdoor painting by bringing together a diverse community of plein air artists. This inclusive, non-juried group of over 150 members welcomes artists of all skill levels and mediums, fostering collaboration among plein air painters, volunteers, and environmental advocates. Their 25th anniversary exhibition is on view only at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center.
Kept Words: Writings from the Vault, Opening October 10 | Harvill. This exhibit will feature items from the Customs House Museum such as letters and scrapbooks. Some of the letters were donated by the first Montgomery County Historian, Ursula Beach. This exhibition is sponsored in part by F&M Bank in connection with America’s 250th.
A Pop Culture Meal: The Aladdin Lunchbox Collection, Opening October 22 | Memory Lane. The Aladdin Company created pop culture lunchboxes here in Clarksville for decades. This exhibition showcases the various lunchboxes and advertising campaigns that went along with the lunchboxes.
Rooted + Rising: Inside APSU’s Department of Art + Design, Opening October 30 | Crouch Gallery. Curated by Sabrina Sanford ‘27 and APSU Prof. Paul Collins. Featuring works by current students and recent APSU graduates alongside their Art + Design mentors Yun Shin (Drawing and Foundations), Angela Hernandez Scoggins (Animation and Visual Effects), Luke Warren (Sculpture) and Patrick Gosnell (Graphic Design). Rooted + Rising examines the breadth and excellence of works made by APSU’s most visually impactful creative community, the Department of Art+Design. This exhibition examines the connection between the Department of Art+Design’s legacy of responsive teaching in relation to a wave of recent innovative programs through a dynamic presentation of works by students and faculty.
Programs
Storytime & Craft: National Fire Pup Day, October 1 | 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. In honor of National Fire Pup Day, we’ll read books about these incredible dogs and smoosh paint a fire with a fire truck as the craft. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
October Art Walk, October 1 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.| Free to the public. The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is excited to take part in the October Artwalk, offering free admission and new exhibits.
Historical Greenwood Cemetery Walking Tour, October 3, October 17, and October 31 | 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. | $20 per non-member ticket | $15 per member ticket. Location: Greenwood Cemetery at 976 Greenwood Ave. Clarksville, TN 37040. Join us for a historic walking tour of Greenwood Cemetery, one of Clarksville’s oldest active burial grounds. As we make our way along the cemetery’s winding paths, you’ll hear fascinating stories of Clarksville’s past, learn about the cemetery’s rich history and discover the lives of notable figures laid to rest there. The approximately one-hour tour offers a unique opportunity to explore local history while gaining a deeper understanding of one of Clarksville’s historic landmarks. Advance tickets are required. Same-day tickets will not be available. Space is limited. Register here (choose between multiple dates).
Sundays at 3:00 – 75 Years Strong: Clarksville Community Concert Association with Dr. Ann Silverberg, Professor of Musicology/Ethnomusicology at Austin Peay State University, October 4 | 3 p.m. | Turner Auditorium | Free to the public; does not include museum admission. The Clarksville Community Concert Association has been entertaining the community for 75 years with innovative and cutting-edge musicians, many of whom have been known worldwide. Dr. Ann Silverberg, the former President of CCCA, will share the highlights of the CCCA’s history, the work they are still doing in the community and for APSU students, as well as what the future looks like for CCCA. Register here
Homeschool Fieldtrip Day, October 6 | 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | K-12 students with adults School tour admission is $3 per student and $5 per adult for non-member homeschool families. On the first Tuesday of each month, local homeschool families are invited to experience a day of self-guided exploration and learning. For more information, contact Curator of Education Stephanie Stafford at stephanie@customshousemuseum.org
Storytime & Craft: Raptor Month, October 15 | 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. It’s Raptor Month, so we’re reading stories about owls, one kind of raptor. We’ll make a twig owl as the craft. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
Sunday Studio: Printmaking with Laicee Blackwell, October 18 | 2 p.m. | Ages 16+ | Free, with registration required; does not include museum admission. In partnership with APSU’s Community School of the Arts, our Sunday Studio class is a creative workshop series for adults. Make fun, fall-themed prints using plastic toy bricks! Design your own pattern or use some of the options we have available for this workshop. This class is open to all levels. The workshop is free and includes all materials. Register here
Mahjong at the Museum, October 22 | $100 per person | 5:30–8:00 p.m. Bring your 2026 NMJL card and your love of the game! Please note: This is an open-play event. No lessons, guided play, or scramble matches will be offered. What to Bring: Your 2026 NMJL card. Registration includes access to all sessions. Register Here: Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
Red Cross Blood Drive, October 30 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Be A Hero! Give Blood! Join us (By Appointment Only) at the museum where we will be partnering with the local Red Cross chapter by hosting a blood drive. This is free and open to the public. All you have to do is call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter ‘CustomsHouse’ to schedule an appointment. Save lives by giving blood! *Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.
Fifth Saturday Donation Day, October 31 |10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | All ages, with adult Fifth Saturday is Donation Day! Any month with five Saturdays, on the fifth Saturday any monetary donation to the Museum is your admission. All donations directly support the Museum in creating educational programming for children and adults, preserving our historical collection and supporting our award-winning exhibitions.
Family Art Saturday: Bat Moon – Painting Moonscape, October 31 |10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Ages 3+, with adult Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. This October, we’re creating a bat moonscape in the Family Art Studio. As always, this is perfect for artists of all ages — no experience needed, just bring your imagination! *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
Celebrate the Spooky Season at F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains, Exhibit open daily | Trains run Sundays 1 – 4 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and the last Saturday of each month 1 – 4 p.m. It’s Spooky Season on one of the region’s largest model railroad layouts, which is interactive for kids of all ages. The Halloween festivities have begun, so visit and find the witch spinning around with our model trains. The model train exhibit is open every day, with themes that change each season.
| DON’T MISS AN EVENT: For more Clarksville things to do, check out the Fall fun guide or the Clarksville Events calendar.