Science and Nature: Museums

Agricultural Museum
P.O. Box 40627, Ellington Center (37204)
(615) 360-0197
Located on the 207 beautiful acres of Ellington Agricultural Center, the museum contains an extensive collection of home and farm artifacts from the 1800s and early 1900s. It also houses the Tennessee Agriculture Hall of Fame. Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm; closed all state holidays. Minimum time: 30 minutes. Handicapped accessible on main floor.

Cumberland Caverns
1437 Cumberland Caverns Road, McMinnville (37110)
(615) 668-4396
Located in the Cumberland Plateau, Cumberland Caverns is Tennessee's largest cave and a U.S. Historical Landmark, containing towering formations, waterfalls, the Hall of the Mountain King (the largest cave room in the eastern U.S.) and the Underground Banquet Hall, which features a 3/4-ton crystal chandelier.
Admission: $8 adults; $4 children (6-15). Hours: May 1-Oct. 31, daily 9 am-5 pm; Nov. 1-April 30 by reservation only. Restrooms, gift shop. Minimum time: 1-1/2 hours. Free parking. 38 miles from I-24, Exit 111 at Manchester.

Cumberland Science Museum
800 Ft. Negley Blvd. (37203)
(615) 862-5160
From the planetarium to the child-sized Curiosity Corner to ever-changing blockbuster exhibits, the Cumberland Science Museum provides unique opportunities for discovery for both children and adults. Live science demonstrations and animal shows daily. 1996 events include "Shapes and Other Awesome Stuff" (Jan. 13-Feb. 25), "Earth 2U" (March 9-June 2), "Water Wonder" (June 15-Sept. 8), plus a "Holiday Festival" after Thanksgiving.
Admission: $6 adults; $4.50 children (3-12). Hours: June-Aug., Monday-Saturday 9:30 am-5 pm, Sunday 12:30-5:30 pm; Sept.-May closed Mondays. Gift shop. Minimum time: 1 hour. Handicapped accessible.

Grassmere Wildlife Park
3777 Nolensville Pike (37211)
(615) 833-1534
A beautiful "walk-through" park where one can encounter Tennessee and North American animals like cougar, black bear, bald eagle and gray wolf in natural habitats and experience the heritage of the Croft family farmstead as built in 1810.
Admission: $5 adults; $3 seniors and children(3-12). Hours: 9:30 am-5 pm; park remains open one hour after admission gate closes; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days. Minimum time: one hour. Restrooms, gift shop, restaurant. Handicapped accessible. Free parking. Located two miles from I-24, one mile from I-65.

Nashville Zoo
1710 Ridge Road Circle, Joelton (37080)
Office: 761 Old Hickory Blvd., Suite 400, Brentwood (37027)
(615) 370-3333 Info Line
Hear the call of the wild at the Nashville Zoo with over 600 exotic animals including clouded leopards, lions, white tigers, ring-tailed lemurs, colobus monkey, giraffe, red pandas and many more.With its meandering walkways and beautiful Tennessee countryside, this natural environment zoo is home to many animals representing endangered species from around the world.
New for '96...Nashville Zoo-Rassic featuring life-like, life-sized robotic dinosaurs including a 20-foot tall Tyrannosaurus! Step back in time and experience the thrill of the Mesozoic era (event runs April-Sept.).
Admission: $5.50 adults; $3.50 seniors and children (3-12). Hours: April 1-Sept. 30, daily 9 am-6 pm; Oct. 1-March 30, daily 10 am-5 pm. Minimum time: 2 hours. Free parking. Handicapped accessible. Off I-24 W, Exit 31.

Opryland Hotel Conservatory, Cascades and The Delta
2800 Opryland Drive (37214)
(615) 889-1000
An indoor tropical garden, the Conservatory's 10,000 tropical plants cover a two-acre area that is crowned by a one-acre glass roof six stories above ground level. Walkways, streams, waterfalls and statuary complement the tropical plants.
Giant murals are in another area of the hotel called the Nashville Lobby. They illustrate "the golden years of Nashville" in the 1880s and 1890s, as depicted by Tennessee artist T. Max Hochstetler.
The Conservatory and the murals are complemented by the Cascades, another two-acre "interiorscape" that focuses on water streams, brooks, waterfalls and a lake covering almost a half-acre. Featured daily at 12:30, 3, 5:30, 7 and 9 pm is the "Dancing Waters" fountain show. Pianist Vince Cardell performs during the laser-accented shows Tuesday-Sunday evenings. Completion of The Delta in mid-1996 will further enhance the charming beauty of the hotel. The 4.5-acre interiorscape will feature a 400-seat theme restaurant, a multi-outlet food court featuring several types of cuisine, a river system with guided boats, retail shops, a jazz club and an 85-foot-tall fountain.