CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center would like to announce the upcoming exhibits, programs, and updates:

Exhibitions           

Blueprints of 1898, Through June 28 | Harvill Gallery, the blueprints of the Customs House Museum’s historic 1898 building are presented along with photographs 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. 

Travelin’ Around & Layin’ It Down: Watercolors of Chuck Creasy, Through July 12 | Jostens Gallery. The watercolors of Chuck Creasy show the sights he has captured in watercolors during his travels. A wash of places around the world lends their color to the life and works of watercolorist Chuck Creasy… traveling from the parched wilds of Ethiopia to the jungles of Honduras, he’s never strayed from his simple upbringing in Westmoreland, TN, looking on life with a sense of honesty and a childlike curiosity. After spending several years living in St. Joe Beach, FL, along with his wife Marnie, Creasy recently returned to his beloved Nashville where he is currently Vice President of Creative Services at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, leading the highly successful branding efforts for the city. He continues to paint in watercolor, using bold color and expert brushstrokes to depict his love for everything beautiful. 

Celebrating Samoa, Through July 16 | Lobby, Celebrating Samoa will feature information and artifacts on both the American Samoan and Samoa Islands. The exhibition includes examples of ceremonial dress. Cultural experience event will take place on Saturday June 27 from 11 am – 12 p.m. with traditional dancing and food tasting. June 27 Cultural Experience will be free to public. 

Tennessee Watercolor Biennial Juried Exhibition, Through July 19 | Crouch, Bruner, & Orgain Galleries. The Tennessee Watercolor Society’s (TnWS) Biennial Juried Exhibition will showcase a variety of watercolor painters from Tennessee. The TnWS Biennial Juried Exhibition is the official statewide exhibition for 2026. The Exhibition will be juried by Sterling Edwards, an internationally recognized artist, teacher, and author. A select group of paintings will travel the state of Tennessee. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to view these works of art. 

Suger’s Tiny Designs: Sweet Memories, Through August 3 | Kimbrough Gallery, Roxi Suger presents tiny designs and sweet memories of playing with dolls and making fashion statements. In the exhibition, Suger’s Tiny Designs, view iconic, vintage doll sets for all occasions and eras in fashion history. 

The Time of Dolls, Through August 3 | Kimbrough Gallery, The Time of Dolls is an exhibition focused on dolls throughout different historical periods. The exhibition showcases dolls from the Customs House Museum’s Collection and those borrowed from patrons in the Clarksville community. 

Freedom: The History of US, Through September 27 | Memory Lane. Freedom: The History of US is an exhibition developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, featuring select documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Since 1776, when the United States declared independence from Great Britain, the idea of freedom and our understanding of its implications have changed dramatically. This exhibition traces the evolving concept of freedom from the founding era to the election of Barack Obama. Accompanying the exhibit are items from the Customs House Museum’s collection. This exhibition is sponsored by F&M Bank and is part of the Customs House Museum’s celebration of America’s 250th. 

Programs      

Blue Star Museum Program, Now through September 7, 2026, | Free admission to U.S. active-duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families (up to 5 members, limit 6 admissions to include the card holder).  The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military–Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard–including Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance. 

Homeschool Fieldtrip Day, June 2 | 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: Hug Your Cat Day, June 4 | 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. In honor of Hug Your Cat Day, we’ll read books about cats and paint a cat as our craft.  *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children. 

June Art Walk, June 4 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.| Free to the public, The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is excited to take part in the June Artwalk on June 4th, offering free admission, new exhibits, and a special appearance by Whit McMahan as Abraham Lincoln. Drink Dispatch and Doodles Panini will be at the Museum. 

Sundays at 3:00: Construction of the 1898 Customs House and the Men Behind It, with Raymond Rosado, Senior Public Service Assistant at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, June 7 | 3 p.m. | Turner Auditorium | Free to the public; does not include museum admission. The history of a building is just as interesting as the people who brought it into being. After traveling to conduct research about the three men who organized the creation of Clarksville’s Customs House, Raymond Rosado discusses details he uncovered about the lives of David Asbury Murphy, Charles Alonzo Moses, and William Martin Aiken as well as the creation of the building itself. Register here 

History on the Rocks at the Taproom, upstairs at the Blackhorse, June 10 | 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. | All ages, with adult | Free to the public. We have some exciting signature drinks that the Blackhorse is creating to celebrate the summer issue of Second & Commerce magazine. Their menu will be available for patrons to purchase food & drinks.  Guests will include Beverly Parker, who will discuss the history and wildlife of the Land Between the Rivers (aka Land Between the Lakes, LBL); Dr. Ann Silverberg, talking about the Clarksville Community Concert Association’s 75th anniversary this year; Amelia Wallace who is a relative of President James K Polk, and more guest announcements coming soon. Make plans to join us for this listen & learn happy hour with friends in the community. 

Jammin’ in June with Denny Jiosa, Sponsored by Mary’s Music, June 13 | 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. | All ages, with adult | $50/each tickets includes pre-concert reception and drinks.  “If Eric Clapton played jazz, he’d be Denny Jiosa.”–Jazziz magazine. Join us Saturday, June 13, at 6 p.m. for Jammin’ in June with Denny Jiosa, who is a worldwide recognized jazz guitarist from Nashville, TN. Jiosa has been nominated for 4 Grammy Awards and has 5 contemporary jazz hits. He will play with a 5-piece jazz band. Sponsored by Mary’s Music, the event includes a catered reception with drinks prior to the performance. Reception begins at 6 p.m. The performance starts at 7 p.m. in the Customs House Museum’s auditorium. Tickets are $50 each and include the catered reception and drinks prior to the show.  Buy tickets here. 

Storytime & Craft: International Picnic Day, June 18 | 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. For International Picnic Day, we’ll share books about picnics. We’ll also craft a hamburger onto a tablecloth. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children. 

Juneteenth Storytime & Craft, June 19 | 10:30 a.m. | Free to the public; does not include museum admission. Come kick off your Juneteenth celebration with the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center! Our special guest, Kimberly B. Wiggins, Montgomery County Trustee, will read “A Flag for Juneteenth” by Kim Taylor. Afterwards, families are invited to create collage art inspired by abstract artist, Reggie Laurent. 

Sunday Studio: Crafting with Laicee Blackwell, June 21 | 2 p.m. | Ages 16+ | Free, with registration required; does not include Customs House Museum admission. Rag weaving is a traditional practice of turning old, worn-out fabrics back into something sturdy and functional. We will learn the basics of rag weaving by repurposing strips of old t-shirts to become the weft material for sustainable, handmade woven coasters. Register here 

Family Art Saturday: Roses, June 27 |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 June, we’re creating roses using a scrape art technique 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.    

Celebrating Samoa Cultural Experience, June 27 |11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | All Ages, with adult | Free | Lobby & Turner Auditorium. A free Cultural Experience featuring traditional dancing and food tasting.  The “Celebrating Samoa” Exhibition is now on view in the Lobby at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center through July 16, 2026. Explore the beauty of American Samoa and the Samoa Islands through traditional artifacts, ceremonial dress, and cultural history. 

Know before you go: 

  • Seats are limited. 
  • Attending the event is free; no tickets or membership needed. 
  • Attending this event will not grant admission to access other Museums’ exhibits and/or spaces if not a member. 
  • This event is limited to our Lobby/Courtyard spaces. 
  • Contact us if you have any questions. 

Celebrate America’s 250th 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. We’re celebrating America’s 250th on one of the region’s largest model railroad layouts, which is interactive for kids of all ages. Our 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 Summer fun guide or the Clarksville Events calendar.