(Tre Hargett, Tennessee Secretary of State/Peg Broadcasting News)
Tennessee’s three original constitutions will be on display at the Tennessee State Library and Archives on Tuesday, June 1, to mark our state’s 225th birthday. Tennessee’s first constitution came into effect on June 1, 1796, concurrent with Tennessee’s admission as the 16th state of the Union.
In addition to viewing Tennessee’s founding documents, guests can explore interactive exhibits and take a tour of the new Library and Archives building located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N. on the northeast corner of the Bicentennial Mall State Park in Nashville. The free Statehood Day event is from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT. Tours begin every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reservations are not required.
Bicentennial Mall State Park is celebrating Statehood Day and its 25th anniversary on June 1 with a special event at 10 a.m. in the Amphitheater followed by guided tours and educational programs led by park rangers. For more information about the 25th-anniversary celebration, visit tnstateparks.info/BiMall25thAnn.
On Statehood Day, the Tennessee State Museum will offer self-guided tours and an online exhibition of their new exhibit Tennessee at 225: Highlights from the Collection, storytime and crafts for kids, a presentation by State Historian Dr. Carroll Van West, a commemorative printmaking demonstration and a virtual Tennessee trivia night. Learn more at tnmuseum.org/TN225.
For the latest information from the Library and Archives, follow their social media channels: Facebook: Tennessee State Library and Archives and Instagram: @tnlibarchives and the Secretary of State’s Twitter account: @SecTreHargett.
For more information about the Library and Archives and the other divisions of the Department of State, visit sos.tn.gov.