November happenings at Customs House Museum and Cultural Center

CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center would like to announce the upcoming exhibits, programs, and updates:

Exhibitions

Anni Crouter: Tales of Enchantment, Opening November 2 | Bruner & Orgain. Working in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, Crouter’s realistic scenes tell stories lined in mystery. Paintings such as Firefly highlight the artist’s technical abilities within the details of lace and fur in a confined composition, but within the strength of her subjects Anni inserts a sense of vulnerability that allows the viewer to imagine their own narrative.

Kept Words: Writings from the Vault, Closing January 6, 2027 | Harvill. This exhibit will feature items from the Customs House Museum such as letters and scrapbooks. Some of the letters were donated by the first Montgomery County Historian, Ursula Beach. This exhibition is sponsored in part by F&M Bank in connection with America’s 250th.

Rooted + Rising: Inside APSU’s Department of Art + Design, Closing January 18, 2027 | Crouch Gallery. Curated by Emily Crosby ‘28, Sabrina Sanford ‘27 and APSU Prof. Paul Collins. Featuring works by current students and recent APSU graduates alongside their Art + Design mentors Yun Shin (Drawing and Foundations), Angela Hernandez Scoggins (Animation and Visual Effects), Luke Warren (Sculpture) and Patrick Gosnell (Graphic Design). Rooted + Rising examines the breadth and excellence of works made by APSU’s most visually impactful creative community, the Department of Art+Design. This exhibition examines the connection between the Department of Art+Design’s legacy of responsive teaching in relation to a wave of recent innovative programs through a dynamic presentation of works by students and faculty.

The Chestnut Group: 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Closing January 10, 2027 | Kimbrough. The Chestnut Group is committed to preserving Middle Tennessee’s natural habitats, landscapes, and historic properties, and as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit based in Nashville, they celebrate the tradition of outdoor painting by bringing together a diverse community of plein air artists. This inclusive, non-juried group of over 150 members welcomes artists of all skill levels and mediums, fostering collaboration among plein air painters, volunteers, and environmental advocates. Their 25th anniversary exhibition is on view only at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center.

Stories in Lacquer, Closing January 24, 2027 | Jostens. Lacquer paintings on wood emerged in Russia in the first half of the 18th century. Russian lacquer miniature art began in Danilkovo and Fedoskino near Moscow, initially producing papier-mâché snuffboxes. After the 1917 revolution, displaced religious icon painters adapted their fine tempera and gold-leaf skills to decorate functional items, expanding into boxes, panels, and wearable art like brooches across four distinct village traditions. These four villages (schools) were Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstyora, and Kholui. This exhibition showcases lacquer boxes and brooches from all four schools; as well as, icons, stacking dolls, and decorative plates – all from a private collection.

A Pop Culture Meal: The Lunchbox Collection, Closing May 2027 | Memory Lane. It’s a flashback! For decades, the Aladdin Company created pop culture lunchboxes here in Middle Tennessee. This exhibition showcases the various lunchboxes and advertising campaigns that went along with the lunchboxes. Which lunchboxes did you carry to school? Seeing them again, do they conjure new memories or a reevaluation of the symbols you valued as a child? Time travel back to your favorite characters and programs as you view hundreds of lunchboxes from our collection.

Programs

Sundays at 3:00 – The Last Paradise: Exploring New Zealand’s Magical Landscapes & Birdlife with Mike O’Malley, Local Businessman & APSU Board Chair, November 1 | 3:00 p.m. | Turner Auditorium | Free to the public; does not include museum admission. Discover New Zealand: A Journey Through Mythic Landscapes and Rare Avian Wonders. Embark on a visual exploration of New Zealand, where prehistoric forests meet dramatic fjords, and unique, flightless birds rule an ancient ecosystem. This presentation uncovers the geological magic behind New Zealand’s dramatic scenery and dives into the fascinating lives of its most iconic, endangered bird species. Register here

Homeschool Fieldtrip Day, November 3 | 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | K-12 students with adults. School tour admission is $3 per student and $5 per adult for non-member homeschool families. On the first Tuesday of each month, local homeschool families are invited to experience a day of self-guided exploration and learning. For more information, contact Curator of Education Stephanie Stafford at stephanie@customshousemuseum.org.

Storytime & Craft: National Donut Day, November 5 | 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. For National Donut Day, we’re reading stories about yummy donuts. We’ll make a craft, too. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

November Art Walk, November 5 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.| Free to the public. The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is excited to take part in the November Artwalk, offering free admission and new exhibits.

Members-Only Opening Reception, November 7 | 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.| Open only to members of the Customs House Museum. Our members-only opening receptions showcase new exhibitions and offer a time to mix and mingle with other members of the museum. This event is not open to the public. Members are invited to exclusive opening receptions four times per year. If you would like to become a member and attend our receptions as well as receive other membership benefits, sign up here

Storytime & Craft: Pumpkin Pie, November 19 | 10:30 a.m. | All ages, with adult | Free with membership or paid admission. In honor of the season of Pumpkin Pie, we’re reading stories about this Thanksgiving dessert. We’ll make a pumpkin pie craft using paper plates. *All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Red Cross Blood Drive, November 20 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.|. Be A Hero! Give Blood! Join us (By Appointment Only) at the museum where we will be partnering with the local Red Cross chapter by hosting a blood drive. This is free and open to the public. All you have to do is call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter ‘CustomsHouse’ to schedule an appointment. Save lives by giving blood! *Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Family Art Saturday: Fall Trees – Paint with Broccoli, November 28 |10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Ages 3+, with adult. Free with membership or paid admission | Family Art Studio. This November, we’re creating fall trees by painting with broccoli in the Family Art Studio. As always, this is perfect for artists of all ages — no experience needed, just bring your imagination!
*All parents are expected to participate with and supervise their children.

Celebrate the Holidays at F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains, Exhibit open daily | Trains run Sundays 1 – 4 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and the last Saturday of each month 1 – 4 p.m. It’s Holiday Season on one of the region’s largest model railroad layouts, which is interactive for kids of all ages. The Holiday festivities have begun, so visit and find the twinkling lights around with our model trains. The model train exhibit is open every day, with themes that change each season.

| DON’T MISS AN EVENT: For more Clarksville things to do, check out the Fall fun guide or the Clarksville Events calendar.