Cookeville History Museum
Open Tuesday – Saturday
10:00 am till 4:00 pm
Free Admission
About
Cookeville History Museum
The museum houses a self-paced, permanent exhibit on the history of this community, including a timeline around the building that begins with the first people to the area and ends with what is happening today. The front gallery is dedicated to local history exhibits, traveling exhibits and collection displays. We are part of the City of Cookeville’s Department of Leisure Services and Public Facilities, Historical Arts Division. Visit the Cookeville History Museum and let us share our story with you.
Current Exhibit
What Is Happening At The Museum
💡FUN FACT FRIDAY💡
Back to school AREADY?!
Speaking of school...keep an eye out for our next exhibit, ‘Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee’ a traveling exhibit from the Tennessee State Museum. This exhibit focuses on the development and legacies of Rosenwald Schools in the state, like West Side School in Putnam County, later known as Darwin School. This exhibit will run from September 26 - November 19. #TennesseeHistory #BackToSchool
Back to school AREADY?!
Speaking of school...keep an eye out for our next exhibit, ‘Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee’ a traveling exhibit from the Tennessee State Museum. This exhibit focuses on the development and legacies of Rosenwald Schools in the state, like West Side School in Putnam County, later known as Darwin School. This exhibit will run from September 26 - November 19. #TennesseeHistory #BackToSchool
Did you miss this year’s Storyfest?
We’ll be hosting Cookeville Storyfest again in 2027 for the 14th consecutive year! This free storytelling and arts festival will be held in early May 2027. Attendees will enjoy a day of world-class storytelling and a showcase of the Upper Cumberland’s finest craftspeople and artists.
Presented by: City of Cookeville Leisure Services Department
Sponsored by: Cookeville Arts Council, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Friends of the Cookeville History Museum.
For more information, interview requests or media inquiries, please contact:
Beth Thompson
Museums Manager, Cookeville History/Depot Museums
Office: (931) 528-8570
Cell: (931) 260-3788
bthompson@cookeville-tn.org
Presented by Cookeville Leisure Services
We’ll be hosting Cookeville Storyfest again in 2027 for the 14th consecutive year! This free storytelling and arts festival will be held in early May 2027. Attendees will enjoy a day of world-class storytelling and a showcase of the Upper Cumberland’s finest craftspeople and artists.
Presented by: City of Cookeville Leisure Services Department
Sponsored by: Cookeville Arts Council, Tennessee Arts Commission, and Friends of the Cookeville History Museum.
For more information, interview requests or media inquiries, please contact:
Beth Thompson
Museums Manager, Cookeville History/Depot Museums
Office: (931) 528-8570
Cell: (931) 260-3788
bthompson@cookeville-tn.org
Presented by Cookeville Leisure Services
💡FUN(?) FACT FRIDAY💡
One of the most common questions we get at the Depot museum is "Why can't we flush the toilet if there's a train outside?" due to this sign hanging in the bathroom. Truth is, the sign is an artifact that we find amusing, but it also tells a historic tale about bathrooms on trains!
In the 1920s, train toilets didn’t collect waste—they just let it fall.
Known as "hopper toilets," these systems were essentially open pipes leading straight to the tracks. When a passenger flushed, a foot pedal opened a flap, and gravity did the rest.
To keep stations and cities from becoming public health hazards, railroads enforced strict rules:
• Passenger reminders: signs like the one displayed here were posted in every lavatory, imploring passengers to help keep tracks clean.
• Locked doors: conductors locked restroom doors before entering major cities, stations or public watersheds, unlocking them only after the train was up to speed in the countryside.
This primitive setup lasted much longer than you might think! Driven by environmental regulations, American railroads finally phased out "open track" dumping in favor of sanitary retention tanks during the 1970s and 1980s.
One of the most common questions we get at the Depot museum is "Why can't we flush the toilet if there's a train outside?" due to this sign hanging in the bathroom. Truth is, the sign is an artifact that we find amusing, but it also tells a historic tale about bathrooms on trains!
In the 1920s, train toilets didn’t collect waste—they just let it fall.
Known as "hopper toilets," these systems were essentially open pipes leading straight to the tracks. When a passenger flushed, a foot pedal opened a flap, and gravity did the rest.
To keep stations and cities from becoming public health hazards, railroads enforced strict rules:
• Passenger reminders: signs like the one displayed here were posted in every lavatory, imploring passengers to help keep tracks clean.
• Locked doors: conductors locked restroom doors before entering major cities, stations or public watersheds, unlocking them only after the train was up to speed in the countryside.
This primitive setup lasted much longer than you might think! Driven by environmental regulations, American railroads finally phased out "open track" dumping in favor of sanitary retention tanks during the 1970s and 1980s.
We are continually blown away by the reception this beautiful mural has gotten from all of YOU! Here is a wonderful interview with Katie of Kts Art and Design--PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL ART(ISTS)!
We also want to be sure everyone knows this project was made possible by Tennessee 250!
We also want to be sure everyone knows this project was made possible by Tennessee 250!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Night at the Museums: Indoor Encore!
We hope you enjoyed this special indoor edition of one of our favorite events and left with a new appreciation for the people and moments that shaped our community and our nation.
A special thank you to our actors, volunteers, staff, and everyone who helped make this event possible. Your dedication brought history off the pages and onto the stage.
Thank you for being part of another memorable Night at the Museums. We look forward to sharing more opportunities to explore history together!
Production by Cookeville Leisure Services and Cookeville History Museum
We hope you enjoyed this special indoor edition of one of our favorite events and left with a new appreciation for the people and moments that shaped our community and our nation.
A special thank you to our actors, volunteers, staff, and everyone who helped make this event possible. Your dedication brought history off the pages and onto the stage.
Thank you for being part of another memorable Night at the Museums. We look forward to sharing more opportunities to explore history together!
Production by Cookeville Leisure Services and Cookeville History Museum
Take a piece of Cookeville history home with you. Postcards featuring the new mural painted by KT Design at the Cookeville History Museum are now available for purchase at both the Cookeville History Museum and the Cookeville Depot Museum. Stop by and pick one up on your next visit!
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What Visitors Say!
Cookeville Depot Museum
116 W. Broad Street
Cookeville, TN 38501
Tuesday – Saturday
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
