The Tennessee Agricultural Museum (Ellington Agricultural Center, 615/837-5197, http://tnagmuseum.org, Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., free) celebrates the ingenuity and dedicated labors of farm life from the 17th to the 20th century. Operated by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and set on the department’s pleasant south Nashville campus, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum depicts various facets of Tennessee farm life.

There are exhibits about clothes-washing, blacksmithing, coopers, plows, and weaving, just to name a few. Outside, there is a small kitchen garden with heirloom vegetables, and replicas of a log cabin, one-room schoolhouse, and outdoor kitchen. There is also a short self-guided nature trail illustrating the ways that settlers used various types of native Tennessee trees.

Admission to the museum is free, but you can pre-arrange demonstrations for a fee. Staff are also available to answer any questions. This is a good choice for families.