Military Memorial Museum
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Housed in Cumberland County's second courthouse, the Military Memorial Museum features exhibits from each of the major conflicts in U.S. history beginning with the Civil War. It contains more than 5,000 artifacts donated by local residents and even from visitors from around the country and abroad. Highlights include exhibits on local Medal of Honor recipients and, in the World War II exhibit, a local German POW camp called Camp Crossville.
Images
The Military Memorial Museum is housed in the county's second courthouse, which was built in 1885.
Undated Black & white photo of museum
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The courthouse replaced the first one, which was a one-story frame structure built in 1857. In 1905, a fire severely damaged the interior and roof, prompting the county to build the third courthouse. The second courthouse was restored and it became the first Cumberland County High School and Normal School. It housed a library as well. Interestingly, wrestling matches were held in the building in the 1940s. After that, the building housed various government offices for several decades until the museum opened in 2002. The museum began small. Local military veterans and historians started with a collection of 110 items. Over time, the collection grew to its current size.
Sources
Casteel, Britt. "Cumberland County Courthouses." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. June 17, 1980. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/80003783_text.
"History of the Museum." Military Memorial Museum. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.militarymemorialmuseum-tn.org/history.