Carnegie Center for Arts and History Opens New Exhibition - Tennessee Music Boxes
Jackson, Tenn. – The Carnegie Center for Arts and History is proud to announce the opening of Tennessee Music Boxes. The new exhibition that explores a little-known chapter of Southern musical heritage. The exhibition, on view from May 7 through October 25, 2025, is the first to be presented in The Carnegie’s newly completed gallery space and is on loan from Arts in McNairy.
Tennessee Music Boxes highlights a rare regional instrument, commonly known as a “box dulcimer,” that originated in West and Middle Tennessee shortly after the Civil War. Handmade by local artisans using humble materials, these instruments reflect the ingenuity, creativity, and musical spirit of rural communities. They were never commercially produced on any scale but the most skilled craftsmen might have built several instruments for friends and family.
The exhibition features seven distinct instruments, each with unique variations in design, construction, and decoration. Visitors will see firsthand how no two instruments are exactly alike—some feature carved or painted ornamentation, while others include unusual tuning mechanisms or structural adaptations.
The Carnegie Center for Arts and History is open Wednesday - Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. We invite all visitors to come see the new exhibition today.