Hunter Museum and Bessie Smith Cultural Center

Hunter Museum

Built on a ninety-foot limestone bluff overlooking the Tennessee River and comprised of a 1905 classical revival mansion, a low-slung 1970s building and a 2005 contemporary structure, the Hunter Museum of American Art showcases 100 years of architecture and houses the finest collection of American art in the Southeast. The collection of the Hunter Museum spans the history of American art from the colonial period to the present day, and covers a wide variety of media including painting, sculpture, contemporary studio glass, and crafts.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center

The Chattanooga African American Museum was founded in 1983 by ten empowering visionary leaders from Chattanooga.  Located in an area once dubbed as the city’s black enterprise zone, (the famed 9th Street District) now known as M.L. King Boulevard, the museum’s original goal was to present the many contributions African Americans made to the development of Chattanooga. The rise in the number of African American Museums during the 1960’s paralleled the growth in African American studies throughout the nation. Both visions were attempts to compensate for the failure of the American education system to provide adequate inclusion and contributions of African Americans in American history and culture. In 1996, a newly renovated facility became the new home of the Chattanooga African American Museum and the Bessie Smith Hall. Located at 200 E. M. L. King Boulevard, the facility was established to pay homage to the late “Empress of the Blues”, Bessie Smith, through the establishment of a Performance Hall within the complex. The Bessie Smith Performance Hall has become well known in the Chattanooga community as an educational institution and spectacular venue to host performances, banquets, meetings and various community events.

What is now one organization began as two that were distinctly separate. Over the past several decades, the Bessie Smith Performance Hall developed a strong brand within the Chattanooga community. As a result of an extensive strategic planning process and to generate an overall awareness of what the one entity offers to Chattanooga, surrounding areas, and the southeastern region, the Chattanooga African American Museum/Bessie Smith Performance Hall was renamed the Bessie Smith Cultural Center (African American Museum & Performance Hall) in 2009. The center is affectionally referred to as “The Bessie”.  For more information visit our website at www.bessiesmithcc.org

 

Lunch Options:

 

Homemade Turkey – No deli slices here! Our slow-roasted, hand pulled turkey is topped with provolone cheese and seasonings with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard on the side

Classic Italian – Our classic Italian is made with premium Genoa salami, capocollo ham, prosciuttini ham, provolone cheese and seasonings with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard on the side BBQ 

Turkey Salad – A little bit sweet, a little bit savory! Mixed greens topped with slow-roasted, hand pulled turkey,  crispy cheddar onions, diced tomatoes, corn & black bean salsa, and drizzled with BBQ sauce with chipotle ranch on the side.

Vegetarian Turkey – Gobble up this vegetarian favorite made with sliced Worthington brand vegetarian turkey and provolone cheese with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard on the side