Let me just start by saying that I love the preserved natural state of the depot. The floors are so…read morecreaky and the wood is so wood-y and the interior is so dimly lit. I love that you can see just a few old furnishings and chairs. The original layout on the wall is great. Oh! and my favorite is the photograph of railroad workers..what a gorgeous photo! I'm telling you, that picture belongs in textbooks and in iconic images of turn-of-the century railroading. Okay, besides that I found that the layout was hard to follow. I'm not knocking it. But if I could I'd suggest a few things to enhance the experience here. Since I haven't taken a train ride or stopped by during one of the festivals, all I can do is comment on the museum part of the depot experience. Mostly, there are just anecdotes and archives and pictures adorning the walls. And that's great. But there was no flow or sequence to the visit. I found myself reading something on one wall and then running to the other end of the building because it finally explained more about the topic over there. Where am I again? Also, I wish there was an info-graphic to inform you of the supplies and labor that went into building the structure. I wish that the stage was set historically a little bit better too. I wonder if they flipped the exhibits around perhaps that would help. The displays in the back room give you more up-front information. If they brought this signage to the front where you enter your museum visit would make more sense from start to finish. A nice place but, honestly, only if you are in the area.

This is where we celebrate the 4th of July every year. The whole town seems to close down and we…read morehave food booths, and craft booths, and games for the kids and activities for the kids as well as music all day long and fireworks at night right after we read the Declaration of Independence on stage. There is also a museum inside talking about and showing the history of trains and the Depot when trains ran out of there. It is also where people meet to catch a train for scenic train rides. We also put on Dinner Theater plays upstairs with the dinner downstairs through the Gem Theater. (263-3270) It is the center and heart of our town of Etowah, Tennessee.

We drove 500 miles to make this trip. I've ridden on a number of trains before including the…read moreJapanese Bullet Train (200 mph). This is a much different experience and a very pleasant one to say the least. We decided to make this trip just before the heat of summer as a possible scouting trip for the leaf color change in late October. While the trees which are in full foilage obstructed some of the views of the Gorge and the river, it was still a beautiful sight. We rode in the Dome Car so we had a very good vantage point. We bought an on board Lunch which was a turkey sandwich on a croissant dressed (green stuff was in a separate bag. There was also an amply supplied snack box which caused me to abandon my low carb diet for a day. The part of the trip which was the best part was the crew. EVERYONE of them was absolutely delightful. The Narrator(s) were exceptional and gave every detail about the route as we cruised along at about 12 mph going uphill and up to 16 mph coming back down. We had one of the Narrators come up to our car and give us extra details about the Loop which was super nice. All in all my wife and I had a wonderful time. TIP: If you get cold easily (the cars are air conditioned) bring a blanket. I broke the ice with the rest of the passengers when one of the conductors checked in on us and asked if everything was ok. I indicated that it was a bit warm, but we would struggle through it. That was all it took for us to really start talking and getting to know one another as most of the men were chilly, and the women were freezing. There were blankets on board and I managed to find one for my Princess, but You may want to bring one. I would highly recommend this trip. The steps up to the dome Car(s) are not bad but you have to be able to climb up about 7 or 8 steps. We may very well do this trip again in the fall as I suspect that the Leaf Color Change will be breathtaking. God puts on full display for us that beauty. Thanks to the Crew for making this slow train ride a very memorable experience.

What a wonderful way to spend our last day of vacation but with the people on the train ride!…read moreAwesome facts shared. Great service from Debbie in car 6. Thank you for a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

Went here in the afternoon with my husband and kids (age 7&8). We did the guided tour and it was…read morewonderful! The inside museum is self guided. We took probably 20-30 minutes inside, then hopped on a golf cart for the guided part of the tour. It ended up taking about an hour to an hour and a half. Our guide was so knowledgeable and made learning fun (per my kids!). If you want to learn a little history in a relaxed and engaging environment, you should stop in here! Keep in mind that most of the tour/museum is outside, so if you don't want to get wet or be too cold or too hot, plan your visit with the weather in mind.

Our guide, Jody, made it great! Upon driving up to the museum, we didn't expect much and inside the…read moresmall museum wasn't much. But once we boarded the golf cart on the guided tour with Jody, that all changed. The weather was great, which always helps but the knowledge Jody shared at each stop took us back in history. As a teacher, I appreciated each detail and he (Jody) was always ready to answer questions. The property around the museum is where all of the history took place and Tunnel Hill takes great pride in their local treasure. I was surprised to learn all the seemingly small place had to offer. Kudos to all the people who work hard to keep this place alive. My kids and I had a great visit! I will note that it is more for middle school and up. And it's good for the kids to already have some knowledge about the Civil War. I only rate it one star less than perfect because the displays and mannequins need quite a bit of updating. You do have to have a good guide!

Old restored mansion from late 1700s owned by Chief Vann of the Cherokee Indian people. Lovely…read morehistoric home that is a sad reminder of the Trail of Tears. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

We had a trip to the Vann House on our radar for quite some time. They do an annual candle-lit…read moretour of the house and a few buildings on the grounds. And I'm glad we went! This place was quite the glimpse into our state's past. There's enough here to make any history buff happy--a wonderful educational experience for all ages, with an interpretive center that is rich with information. The house is a very nicely restored Mansion once owned by a Cherokee Chief, James Vann. Construction on the house was completed in 1804. The "Friends of the Chief Vann House" take a great deal of pride in their restoration efforts, and there are plenty of volunteers around during the candle-light tour to clue you in on history and trivia about the occupants. They don't seem to pull any punches when talking about the Trail of Tears, and how the Cherokee were treated back then. Vann House was working plantation with slaves, so there is also a good deal of information about the treatment of the estate's slaves, getting down to some history on specific individuals. The amount of research that has been done on the Vann House is impressive. They also have "Vann House Days" during the summer. And the site is not far from New Echota Historic Site. Next time we'll visit both when we're in the area. Holler if you're coming with.

Enjoyed seeing all the details and information Films were…read moregood - very friendly staff and a great selection in the gift shop we were able to take our time and weren't rushed

Definitely an interesting experience. Totally worth the $9 ticket. Only complaint is that we wished…read morethere was a tour guide. Thankfully there was a true believer who was there at the same time as we were so we were able to listen to his fun facts.

Definitely worth a visit! McMinn County has a lot of history that you probably didn't know about…read more For example, you bet that as a woman I exercise my right to vote. And I'm so proud Harry T. Burn did the right thing in 1920 to ratify the 19th amendment. Or how about Time Magazine's vote for the world's best ice cream a right here at Mayfield creamery. And by the way, Mayfields' is soooo delish. Go get some now! All the exhibits start off simple with modest display cases of 1-2 artifacts. Then as you progress the vignettes become more elaborate. Before you know it you are walking toward a chapel, a general store and a replica cabin displays. You can also see a showcase of 19th-20th century wars and Tennessee's role in each. There is just one thing I would change. If only there was a seamless explanation of the early settlers in McMinn County. At first you see the exhibit about Native Americans and then you see anecdotes here and there about town officials and then before you know it you are looking at modern-day. I find myself wondering more about the pre-civil war period from colonial to pioneer. It was a bit patchy to follow this timeline and I think they could dedicate an exhibit for this.

If you're visiting Chattanooga, do yourself a favor and don't skip the Coker Museum. Whether you're…read morea lifelong car enthusiast or someone who couldn't tell a Model T from a Mustang, this place is absolutely fascinating. It ended up being one of my favorite museums I've ever visited. The museum is built around the incredible collection of the Coker family, who made their name through Coker Tire, and you can feel the passion behind every display. I had the chance to meet Casey, who now helps lead the family business, and she was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. It was so refreshing to see a family-run museum where everyone genuinely loves what they do. The collection is unbelievable. You'll find everything from antique automobiles and classic sports cars to vintage trucks, motorcycles, race cars, buses, and even airplanes hanging from the ceiling. They also have a working restoration shop where you can watch vintage vehicles being brought back to life, plus displays of the original tires and automotive memorabilia that tell the story behind the collection. One of the coolest pieces was the historic Yellowstone tour bus used in filming, which was such a fun surprise. (Content Rhino) At $25 per person, this museum is worth every penny. We spent far longer here than we expected because there was always something new to discover around every corner. Even if cars aren't normally your thing, the history, craftsmanship, and stories behind these vehicles make this an experience you won't forget. Hands down, this is one of the best museums I've visited, and it's now at the top of my list of recommendations for anyone visiting Chattanooga.

This museum is a real gem! My husband and I have been to…read moreseveral car museums, but this one is truly special. Starting with the owners of the museum. Kind, polite, personable, and very passionate about their collection and their family. The vibe of the museum was our favorite part too. The garage vibe isn't something I've seen yet, and honestly, it's really something special in their favor. We took three laps around the museum and found something new every time. My favorite was the Piper Cub. I rode in one myself in high school. I never thought I'd see one again so it was a very special moment for me! I highly recommend this museum whether by yourself, with your family like I was, or for an event.

Part history museum, science museum, and children's museum. There's a little something for everyone…read moreat the American Museum of Science & Energy. The museum tells the story of Oak Ridge's role in World War II and the top secret Manhattan Project. The way the museum is laid out tells the story in a chronological way where you'll begin by learning about how Oak Ridge came to be, its role in the war, and its role in nuclear research in the years since the hydrogen bomb was first dropped over Japan. Plan to spend about 2 hours here depending on how hands on you want to be. As you progress through the musuem it becomes more hands on and reminiscent of a children's museum where you can get hands on with science theories. The space has multiple exhibits, an introduction video, and gift shop. On certain days/times a bus tour is offered to the plant sites that will also include admission to the museum but I was not visiting on one of those days but would like to check it out if Im ever in the area on the right day.

Located in Main Street in Oak Ridge at the end of the shopping strip. Much larger inside than…read moreanticipated and many interactive exhibits, movies, and teaching sessions. An affordable option ($10 per adult and $5 per child) in comparison to other local museums, too. I would say the best ages for this spot would be 8 and up. There is quite a bit of reading and many of the hands-on displays are complex. It is great for adults, too, and I learned so much about our city and nation's history...and science tidbits I had forgotten in the (longgg) time since high school. There is quite a bit of information on the Manhattan Project and the formation of Oak Ridge as a whole, including videos in the auditorium and in that specific section of the museum. We loved learning more! Did you know that when FDR died, his VP had no clue that M. Project was even underway? Or that Oak Ridge had over 75,000 people but did not show on a map? We loved the staff interaction, including the sessions that they lead throughout the afternoon in the auditorium. The one about static electricity was really cool and informative. My squirmy 10 yo was captivated! There were so many STEM exhibits and one of the lab rooms was open with many stations to build circuits, look into microscopes, etc. My kiddo enjoyed what he referred to as "practice for the claw machine," as well. Side notes: The gift shop had some really neat items (typical gift shop pricing) and the water fountains had the bottle filling spout. There are benches everywhere you look and it is all one level, making this a highly-accessible spot to visit. You will likely spend at least 1.5-2 hours here. Definitely worth the money!

Wonderful place to see God's creation. The beautiful animals are friendly and all around. The store…read morepart is great with things to buy from the past. The restaurant serves the old country food from years ago. I do wish they'd expand their menu some but it is still good. Lots of vendors on special days there as well.

Surprised at how well exhibited the museum is! It's a fairly large outdoor exhibit. If you're a…read moresenior, you might want to ho when it's cooler out. Highly recommended!