When it comes to free things to do in Nashville, there seem to be plenty of options. There’s simply so much to do in this city, even the folks who live here would have a hard time doing everything within a few years! Not to mention the strain on the wallet…. Luckily, there are plenty of free museums in Nashville. Yep, you read that right: FREE. And we can practically guarantee that you won’t regret paying a visit to these free Nashville museums.

1. Tennessee Agricultural Museum

One of the most well-known museums in Nashville, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum is located on the grounds of the Ellington Agricultural Center in South Nashville. The museum is always free and features artifacts from throughout the history of farming in Tennessee. Check out this overview of this wonderful museum:

2. The Tennessee Governor's Mansion

Did you know that the Tennessee Governor's Mansion is also hiding in South Nashville and that you can tour it for free? The catch is that tours are only available on select days and must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, which you can do by visiting the Tennessee Governor's Mansion website. Can't wait to visit? You can always drive by for free. Here’s an overview of this state mansion:

3. The Upper Room Chapel and Christian Art Museum

The Upper Room is known for its devotionals that it publishes across the world, and it's also where you'll find one of the best free museums in Nashville. Utterly unique, the museum is full of global, interracial, interdenominational Christian art. It has different exhibits at different times of the year, so it's worth going back again and again. Though the museum is open on select days throughout the week, tours should be requested ahead of time.

4. Cooter's Place

Now for something a little more light-hearted: Cooter's Place. This Dukes of Hazard museum is run by none other than Cooter himself (or at least the actor who played him). There's all kinds of memorabilia from the show including many of the cars used. It's truly unlike any other of the free museums in Nashville. Take a virtual tour of Cooter’s Place:

5. Warner Park Nature Center

The Warner Parks in Belle Meade are known for their expansive beauty, but their nature center is the park's true hidden gem, and that's because it's one of the best museums in Nashville. A great visit for all ages, the museum is full of the natural history of the area, and it's absolutely free.

6. Centennial Art Center

Hiding in West End's Centennial Park is the Centennial Art Center, a small building that's hiding a lot of cool history about the park, along with a lot of local art. And unlike most Nashville museums, visitors have a chance to get creative, as the Centennial Art Center offers tons and tons of community classes for anyone interested in learning!

7. Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery

When searching for free attractions in Nashville, look no further than the Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery. It's easily one of the nicest museums in town, but not many people know about it. It's a huge plus that it's free! There's all kinds of stuff that comes in and out of the gallery, so be sure to visit more than once, as each visit is like a brand-new adventure. The Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery is located in Cohen Memorial Hall.

So, did you know about these free museums in Nashville? Ever visited any of these Nashville museums? Know of any other can’t-miss free attractions in Nashville? Tell us!

Visiting the free museums in Nashville isn’t the only option for affordable fun. There are actually quite a few restaurants in Tennessee where you can dine for $10 or less.