Chattanooga is fondly known as the Scenic City, and it is a very popular travel destination in the southern United States. It has a respectable and vibrant art scene that easily compares to most of the artistic cities across the United States. Not long ago, it scooped the second position in the list of the ‘Top Art Destination for Mid-Sized Cities’ in the US. This is a subtle indication of its richness in art, and a reason enough for every visitor to have a tour of the art museums and galleries, whether or not they are passionate about art. If you desire to explore the city’s art scene, check out our list of the top art museums in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1. Hunter Museum of Art America
The Hunter Museum of Art America is housed in a very beautiful building, which is a work of art in itself. The museum houses an unparalleled collection of American art, including the present-day artwork and pieces that date back to the colonial era. Currently, it is the proud home to ‘Seeking the Spiritual: The Visionary Art of Elliot Daingerfield’, a breathtaking piece of artwork that has been displayed since 2016, and one of the main reasons why some people visit this museum.
Hunter Museum of American Art
Address: 10 Bluff View Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
Website: Hunter Museum of American Art
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
2. Houston Museum – Decorative Arts
Posted by Houston Museum on Friday, 10 January 2020
The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts features antique glass, ceramics, music boxes and antique furniture. The collection on display is some of the best in the world. The museum occupies a beautiful Victorian house and it offers guided tours of all the exhibits on display, including narrations of Anna Safley Houston, the lady responsible for accumulating the collections before bestowing them to the people of Chattanooga upon her demise in 1951. It will shock you to learn that Mrs. Houston was married at least nine times, and she died in abject poverty because she refused to sell any of the priceless antiques that would have easily given her enough money for food and medication.
Houston Museum-Decorative Arts
Address: 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, United States
Website: Houston Museum-Decorative Arts
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 10am - 7pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 17 USD
3. UTC Fine Arts Center
Undergrad Commencement 2019 Undergraduate Commencement, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019 in McKenzie Arena.
Posted by The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Monday, 16 December 2019
UTC Fine Arts Center sits at the intersection of Palmetto and Vine Streets in Chattanooga. It is home to the University of Tennessee’s Department of Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. The center houses three main venues - the George Ayers Cress Gallery of Art, The Dorothy Hackett Ward Theater and The Roland W. Hayes Concert Hall. A visit to this facility will expose you to various student, guest and faculty exhibits and depending on when you come, you may be treated to thrilling performances in any of the venues housed within the center.
UTC Fine Arts Center
Address: 752 Vine St, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
Website: UTC Fine Arts Center
Price: 12 USD
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4. Creative Discovery Museum
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Posted by Creative Discovery Museum on Friday, 6 December 2019
Creative Discovery Museum is one of the top children’s museums in the United States of America. It is a place designed to inspire children’s passion for learning through the use of engaging and interactive plays. It is full of hands-on family fun with lots of stuff that kids below the age of four years will love interacting with. These include creating clay sculptors, zooming messages through a pneumatic tube, excavating dinosaur bones, and exploring the infant gardens with the Little Yellow House.
Creative Discovery Museum
Address: 321 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, United States
Website: Creative Discovery Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 15 USD
Art galleries in Chattanooga
5. In-Town Gallery
Posted by In-Town Gallery on Tuesday, 26 November 2019
In-Town Gallery has been gracing the streets of Chattanooga since 1974 and it is one of the oldest cooperative galleries in the United States. Within its walls are artistic displays of a wide range of styles, including folk and classical arts belonging to more than 30 artists. In addition to the incredible collection of the wall arts, In-Town Gallery is also home to some of the finest jewelry, stained glass, pottery, metal works and old lamps you will ever set your eyes on.
In-Town Gallery
Address: 26 Frazier Ave # A, Chattanooga, TN 37405, United States
Website: In-Town Gallery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 6pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm
6. River Gallery
Posted by River Gallery on Monday, 13 January 2020
River Gallery sits in a turn-of-the-century house and it houses paintings, sculptors, jewelry, and glass which are works of some of the renowned local, regional and international artists. The gallery is reputed as the very first business to open its doors in the breathtaking Bluff View Arts District, and it is just a stone’s throw away from the famous Hunter Museum of American Art.
River Gallery
Address: 400 East Second Street. Chattanooga, TN, 37403.
Website: River Gallery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
7. Hart Gallery Tennessee
Posted by Hart Gallery TN on Thursday, 19 December 2019
Hart Gallery is an entity on a mission to create hope and opportunity through the works of art. The gallery is on a unique mission to provide a platform where the homeless can advertise their artwork, sell them and take home all the proceeds they get from the sales. Additionally, the gallery also supplies art materials and also offers mentorship classes to individuals, groups, and other non-profit community organizations. Feel free to visit the gallery to appreciate the skills of the artists and also promote them by buying a couple of artwork from them.
Hart Gallery Tennessee
Address: 110 E Main St, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States
Website: Hart Gallery Tennessee
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 3pm (closed on Sun)
8. Gallery 1401
Posted by Gallery 1401 on Monday, 30 September 2019
Gallery 1401 is the home to an incredible variety of bronze sculptures, watercolor, hand-blown glass, and oils and collage which are the works of art belonging to various renowned artists from all corners of the world. Seeing some of the exhibits in this gallery will blow your mind about the extent of imagination the human mind is capable of. Regrettably, the gallery doesn’t sell any of the pieces, and so you will not be carrying a unique souvenir home.
Gallery 1401
Address: 1478 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, United States
Website: Gallery 1401
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 5pm; Sat: 11am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
9. Area 61 Gallery
Posted by area 61 on Wednesday, 1 January 2020
Area 61 Gallery was founded in April of 2009 by Rudd Montgomery & David Crewe, who are widely known and highly respected master craftsmen. The gallery is the home to a diverse range of collections of artwork by professional artists as well as local craftsmen around Chattanooga and the neighboring regions. Some of the exciting items you will find in this gallery include artisan pottery, hand-crafted speakers, handcrafted furniture, jewelry, woodwork and fine arts, among others. Once every month, the gallery holds a collector’s show which provides a platform for creators and enthusiasts of art in Chattanooga to interact and network.
Area 61 Gallery
Address: The Maclellan Bld, 721 Broad St #100, Chattanooga, TN 37402, United States
Website: Area 61 Gallery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 6pm (closed on Sun)
Explore Chattanooga's flourishing art scene
There is no denying that the art scene in Chattanooga is becoming brighter and brighter with each passing year. A good way to gain more insights about the city’s art and to show your appreciation to the hardworking artists is to visit these top art museums in Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you get a chance, don’t hesitate to buy an item or two to carry home as souvenirs.
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