Hidden Gem: Region's Museums Focus On Art, History, More

B. CARROLL REECE MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Located on the East Tennessee State University campus in Johnson City, the Reece Museum is equal parts art center and history museum.
A permanent collection of 20,000 objects, rotating exhibits and the work of present and former university students are on display at the free museum. The focus is on Appalachian culture, beginning at the time of Civil War Reconstruction through industrialization and forward to today.
Recent and regional are the qualifications for display at the Reece.
“Appalachian culture, just like any other culture in the world, is not done, its still going on,” museum Director Theresa Burchett said.

CRAB ORCHARD MUSEUM
The Crab Orchard Museum is a regional history museum in Tazewell, Va., and focuses on a time when the Appalachian Mountains were the heart of the American frontier.
“We were a little farther west than the King [of England] wanted people to go, but you can’t tell mountain people what to do,” Executive Director Charlotte Whitted said of the pioneer days. “We try to celebrate that independent spirit.”
The 10,000-square-foot museum uses permanent and temporary galleries, 14 authentic log buildings and period re-enactments to help bring that spirit to life. Admission prices were recently cut in half to $4 for adults and $2 for children. The Crab Orchard is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

HARRY W. MEADOR COAL MUSEUM
Located in Big Stone Gap, Va., the museum shines a light on the impact of coal mining on Southwest Virginia. Most of the artifacts come from the personal collection left by Meador, a former executive with Westmoreland Coal Company.
A large collection of equipment and photos from inside the mines catalogue changes in the industry over the past century. However, the most interesting displays may be artifacts like hospital equipment and scrip money that give a glimpse into the difficulties of day-to-day life in a coal-mining community.
Admission to the museum is free, although donations are accepted. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA MUSEUM
The Southwest Virginia Museum is housed in a 117-year-old stone mansion in Big Stone Gap, Va.
The museum focuses on the “boom and bust” period of the 19th century when Big Stone Gap was dubbed “the Pittsburgh of the South” by a group of northern businessmen. Exhibits chronicle the history of the railroad and coal mines in the area and profile several prominent local citizens of the time.
Other exhibits range from a collection of artifacts from the area’s 18th century settlers to life at the turn of the 20th century.
Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The museum is closed in January and February.

POCAHONTAS EXHIBITION COAL MINE AND MUSEUM
Visitors can step inside an actual coal mine at the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine and Museum in Pocahontas, Va.
Guided tours take you underground to see how the process of mining has changed since the 1880s.
The mine’s old bath house is now a museum with many mining relics on display.
Admission to the museum is free. Tours of the mine are $7 for adults and $4.50 for children. The mine closes for the season in October and reopens at the end of April. For information about hours and availability, call (276) 945-2134.

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AND GENERAL SHALE BRICK NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM
Some of the earth’s oldest creatures are on display at one of the area’s newest museums at the Gray fossil site.
A routine road-widening project in 2000 revealed an archaeologist’s paradise beneath the ground in Gray, Tenn.
Since then, scientists have unearthed bones of prehistoric animals dated to the Miocene period, making it the only site of its kind in the eastern part of the country.
The newly completed East Tennessee State University and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum near the site houses the collection. Along with artifacts from the Gray fossil site, the museum also displays rotating exhibits. A display of Sue, the world’s largest and most completely assembled Tyrannosaurus rex, is on loan from The Field Museum in Chicago until April 27.
The fossil museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Admission to the permanent exhibit is free. Guided tours that include a tour of the fossil site are available hourly for $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children 12 and under. Tickets for the rotating exhibits are sold separately.

NYUMBA YA TAUSI PEACOCK MUSEUM
Located in Bristol Virginia, the Peacock Museum celebrates African heritage and the civil rights movement. Art and artifacts from Africa and local memorabilia are all exhibited in the house museum.
The museum is open on weekdays by appointment and from 1-5 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free but donations are accepted. For information or to schedule a visit, call (276) 669-4596.

WILLIAM KING REGIONAL ARTS CENTER
Located in Abingdon, Va., The William King Arts Center is part art museum, part history museum and part school.
Historic and contemporary art exhibits, featuring a mix of local and international works, rotate every three to six months. The center also features a sculpture garden, historic house museum and a working artist’s studio. Classes on art appreciation and technical courses in the visual and performing arts are offered year round to adults and children.
Admission to the museum is free. The center is closed on Mondays. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Wednesdays through Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For information on classes or exhibits, call (276) 628-5005.

THE PARAMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The theater on State Street long has been a staple of downtown Bristol Tennessee and a center for entertainment in the area. Built in the 1931 and restored 60 years later, the Paramount has staged Broadway productions, orchestras, and top-40 rock bands in recent years.
Along with national acts, The Paramount is a patron to regional arts, serving as a home base for hometown performance organizations like Theatre Bristol, the Bristol Ballet Company and the Bristol Concert Choir.
For a complete schedule of performances visit www.-theparamountcenter.com or call (423) 274-8920.