The Walter Anderson Museum of Art

Those who “see” his art experience a little of what it was like for him to realize the beauty of humanity in this way. They feel his love of nature and see their own beauty reflected in...

A Much-Traveled Southerner on Collecting and Memory

My reason for having so much displayed around me is not only for their beauty and interest, but also to every day bring back my memory of the country, the time, and the events—usually...

Last Ride to Graceland

I’m convinced that Graceland can tell you more about the American dream than the White House, Grand Canyon, and Statue of Liberty combined.

The Ava Gardner Museum: The Jewel of Johnston County

The museum had the most humble of origins: it was the brainchild of a young Wilson boy named Tom Banks, who never quite got over the enchantment of a quick smooch Ava had given him in jest...

Hillbilly Ingenuity: Tourism and Souvenirs

Popular culture is probably the biggest culprit for this state of affairs.

Abita Mystery House

The Abita Springs Mystery House is never exactly the same on any given two days. You might have to squint to find the addition, but Preble insists on doing artistic work every day, even if...

Yesterday’s Children: Antique Doll & Toy Museum

Moving through the tightly packed shelves, we alternated between high-pitched squeals of delight at recognizing a treasured plaything and a game of one-upmanship on picking out the most...

Tennessee’s Bean Town

There is no better place to celebrate the bean and its cultural impact than the Bush’s Baked Beans visitor’s center in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, a community forty miles east of...

A Memory Worth Repeating: Chasing Rainbows at Dollywood

Dollywood’s Chasing Rainbows Museum tells Dolly’s rags-to-riches life story. Its message is clear―that you should chase your rainbow, follow your dreams, and that it is possible to go...

Dinosaur Land

They’ve got the favorites, of course—T-rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus—and then those lesser-known cuties like the Coelophysis, Spinosaurus, and the Giganotosaurus (nope, not making it...

The South has always tolerated and even encouraged the unique and unusual, the one of a kind. The Summer 2015 issue explores institutions – predominantly museums – off the beaten path or quirky in nature. While they all are unique in their own individual ways, each one also spotlights and reflects back to us aspects of the larger region and culture.