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Work begins on Sycamore Shoals museum

By Ashley Rader

After the completion of a new state-of-the-art, multi-media museum in the Visitors Center at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, visitors will enjoy a new way to learn about the history of the area.

Construction started in July to convert the large public meeting space and exhibit area to a self-guided museum that educates park visitors about the first settlers to the region and the Native Americans that called the area home before the arrival of European settlers. Park Manager Jennifer Bauer explained the museum had been a part of the original plans when the Visitors Center and the park opened in 1976. Because of budget constraints and cuts, the museum was eliminated from the plans and funding was never granted until this year. All of the work being done at the park is funded by the state and is not being financed at a cost to local operations at Sycamore Shoals.