Location: Chattanooga
Top Things to do in Chattanooga
What to do and see in Chattanooga, Tennessee (TN): The Best Specialty Museums
The name "Chattanooga" comes from the Creek Indian word for "rock coming to a point." This refers to Lookout Mountain, one of the city's major attractions. Here visitors can explore extraordinary rock formations, see a roaring enclosed waterfall and travel by train to the top of the mountain for truly awesome vistas. Back down on the ground, don't miss the world's largest freshwater aquarium, the Tennessee Aquarium. History enthusiasts will love the city's museums dedicated to Civil War, Native American and 20th-century history. More than anything, Chattanooga is a scenic city, full of natural wonders waiting to be explored by foot, car, bike or train.
Restaurants in Chattanooga
1. Coker Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 144 reviews
The Coker Museum is open with a new entrance in Honest Charley Speed Shop. This is a self guided tour with a $10.00 general admission ticket sold at the front desk of the speed shop. Each general admission ticket has a $3.00 coupon towards any one Honest Charley apparel item. Veterans, first responders, anyone 65 and up and children 6-12 are $8.00. Children 5 and under are free!!
Reviewed By WooBa07 - Murfreesboro, United States
This was a self guided tour so you can look at items you like as long as you want. Largest collection of old motorcycles I have ever seen that were very well presented.
2. Classic Arcade Pinball Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 94 reviews
This pinball museum is an interactive all-you-can-play museum dedicated to the nostalgia, history and science behind the fascinating games of pinball and arcade. We are located in downtown Chattanooga on Broad Street.
Reviewed By mciavolino - Smyrna, United States
Amazing retro experience for older mall rats and a boat load of fun for kids. The games are so much better than video games. You can play classic pinball and arcade games like Pac Man. One price for all you can play. It's an awesome adventure!
3. Creative Discovery Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 965 reviews
Creative Discovery Museum is a hands-on children's museum in the heart of downtown Chattanooga that inspires all children to explore, innovate, create, and play. Our exhibits are designed to both entertain and educate as children discover the world around them and all it has to offer including art, music, dinosaur digging, water exploration, and science. Rated the #7 children's museum in the U.S. by Trekaroo in 2015.
Reviewed By kellypM5119NE - Munfordville, United States
We had a blast with our two year old this morning! Three levels of exhibits to learn and play through; lots of opportunities for pretend play! The highlights for us were the splash zone and the dinosaur area. The more involved you are with your kid, the more fun they’re going to have! Some exhibits geared toward older kids; I wouldn’t expect this location to appeal to a kid over 10. The 2-8 crowd though will be ecstatic ???? Covid stuff- timed entry, temp checks, masks inside pretty well-enforced. The staff are making a great effort to keep things clean in an impossible environment—It’s a hands-on museum; thousands of things for kids to touch and feel everywhere you look. So fellow parents, before you go, make sure your little understands to not touch their face, not put their hands in their mouth and to sanitize often.
4. International Towing and Recovery Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
A museum commemorating the history of the tow truck.
Reviewed By Rhonda4713 - Moss Point, United States
We found the museum to be VERY interesting. Lots of history and timelines of vehicles and their history. Before entering the museum you are shown a brief video which reveals dates and history of this amazing towing industry. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. A big plus to their interesting gift shop! We highly recommend this museum.
5. The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Located in a century-old Victorian house, this museum houses one of the world's finest collections of antique glass and ceramics from the collection of local eccentric Anna Safley Houston.
6. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,307 reviews
Take a trip back in time, to a slower-paced era when railroad travel was a way of life. Relive the romance of the rails when vintage trains provided an escape from the everyday routine. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum provides an interactive, historical experience that will add an extra dimension to your visit to Chattanooga’s popular attractions. Here you will find the only regularly scheduled, full-sized train ride in Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is so much more than entertainment… it is your chance to experience the sights and sounds of yesteryear!
Reviewed By lilbunnygirl - Panama City Beach, United States
We were visiting from Florida and took the 1 hour missionary ridge trip just to have the experience of riding on an old fashioned train fir our teen son who has always loved them. It was a fun little trip, the conductor did a great job of explaining the history as well as making good jokes. Watching the turntable turn the engine was really cool. My son is very interested is someday coming back for the teen camp. They were also very diligent about social distancing, enforcing mask wearing, and keeping the train clean. I highly recommend this company!
7. Hunter Museum of American Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 529 reviews
Focusing on American art from the Colonial period to the present day, the Hunter offers amazing architecture, a stunning permanent collection and exciting temporary exhibitions, and a museum store. The museum is housed in an early twentieth century mansion, a modern 1970s era building and a sleek, contemporary structure of steel and glass. The museum's collection includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, photography, mixed media, video, furniture and contemporary studio glass covering a diverse range of styles and periods. A few of the well-known artists whose work is represented in the Hunter include Thomas Cole, Fitz Henry Lane, Winslow Homer, Robert S. Duncanson, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, Robert Henri, John Marin, Thomas Hart Benton, Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Nevelson, Jack Beal, George Segal, Duane Hanson, Robert Rauschenberg, Sam Gilliam, and Andy Warhol. The Hunter Museum is a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit charitable institution.
Reviewed By MaizeBlueVA - Fairfax, United States
The Hunter Museum of American Art certainly follows the directive of its name: It is a modest sized but interesting museum devoted exclusively to American Art. It's not a complaint but my visit did not find any work of art by an artist who was not an American. Just so you know what you're getting when you visit. The Hunter is located on a hill at the edge of downtown Chattanooga in a gentrified section called Bluffview, which consists of former mansions as well as apartment houses built in the early twentieth century. It is a charming area which should especially appeal to those interested in architecture. The selection of art is quite good though not extensive. Parking is available on site. The museum has a charge for admission.
8. Songbirds
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
By day, Songbirds operates as a first-class vintage guitar museum. Boasting the largest collection in the world on the campus of the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo. By night, Songbirds is Chattanooga's hottest new live music complex. With TWO stages, we offer a variety of events ranging from 200 people (seated) to 500 people (standing).
Reviewed By N6610ZJnancys - Chattanooga, United States
Impressive collections of guitars and stringed instruments. Very informative tours, Really unique guitars and some interesting one of a kind pieces. This private collection is such a find, My grandson loved it as did my 60 something girlfriend. It's a rare find for any music enthusiast. We plan to go again and again.
9. Bessie Smith Hall
10. Chattanooga Choo Choo
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 855 reviews
Large exhibit for train aficionados.
Reviewed By chrissie6668 - Northampton, United Kingdom
Stayed here for a few nights. The rooms have everything you need and very spacious. The grounds are lovely with the Chattanooga bar and frothy monkey for drinks and meals. A really nice play but could do with a freshen up.
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