CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center would like to announce the upcoming exhibits, programs, and updates:
Exhibitions
Travelin’ Around & Layin’ It Down: Watercolors of Chuck Creasy, Opening May 1 | 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 lend 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, Opening May 4 | 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, Opening May 9 | 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. The Exhibition opens May 9, 2026, at the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center and will have over $5000 in awards. 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, Opening May 16 | 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, Opening May 16 | 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.
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.
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
Sundays at 3:00: Happenings in the Public Square with Carolyn Ferrell, Montgomery County Historian. May 3 | 3 pm | Turner Auditorium | Free to the public; does not include museum admission. From pioneer days to horse trading, Montgomery County Historian Carolyn Ferrell will reveal fascinating facts related to important events and notable people in Clarksville Public Square’s history. Register here
Storytime & Craft: National Strawberry Month, May 7 | 10:30 am | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. For National Strawberry Month, we’ll craft and paint a strawberry, and we’re reading two books about strawberries. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
Homeschool Fieldtrip Day, May 5 | 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.
Blue Star Museum Program, May 16 – 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.
Sunday Studio: Painting with Sarah Spillers, May 17 | 2 pm | Ages 16+ | Free, with registration required; does not include Customs House Museum admission. Paint a simple barn quilt design on a wooden panel in this beginner-friendly class inspired by traditional patterns. You’ll learn how to map out your design and use clean color blocking to create a finished piece. Register here
Storytime & Craft: Eat More Fruit & Vegetables Day, May 21 | 10:30 am | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. In honor of Eat More Fruit & Vegetables Day, we’ll share books about gardens and fruits & veggies. We’ll be painting with vegetables for our craft. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.
Family Art Saturday: Birds & Sunset, May 23 |10 am – 12 pm, 1 pm – 3 pm | Ages 3+, with adult. Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. This May, we’re creating mixed media artwork about birds and sunset 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.
Fifth Saturday Donation Day, May 31 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 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.
Celebrate America’s 250th at F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains, Exhibit open daily | Trains run Sundays 1 – 4 pm, Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm, Fridays 10 am – 12 pm and the last Saturday of each month 1 – 4 pm. 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.