Smithsonian Museum Day includes music, antique tractors at Delta Heritage Center

BROWNSVILLE TN (September 17, 2019): Smithsonian magazine has designated Saturday, September 21, 2019, as the 15th annual Museum Day, an initiative in which participating museums across the United States open their doors for free to those who download a branded ticket. The annual event allows museums, zoos and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington D. C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day. The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center /Tina Turner Museum in Brownsville is one of more than 1,500 participating sites that include 29 Tennessee museums, 14 are located in West Tennessee.

This year, Museum Day will celebrate the Smithsonian Year of Music, an institution-wide initiative celebrating the Smithsonian’s vast musical collections and resources through 365 days of music-related programming. The Delta Heritage Center will present live music from 11a.m. – 2 p.m. Featured musicians include Rock-A-Billy Hall of Famer and former Conway Twitty drummer Billy Weir, local musician and pastor Grover Westover and Jackson TN singer/songwriter and original Little Boys Blue founding member Steve Patterson.

“Music is a natural fit for us to tie into the Smithsonian’s Year of Music,” says Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the Delta Heritage Center. “It’s the perfect theme and we are excited to be able to showcase local artists. Being a part of this initiative helps us reach visitors outside our area and draws attention to our region.”

Museum Day will also include an antique tractor show. The Farmers Antique Tractor Club of Brownsville will present its annual show from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., on the Heritage Center grounds. Trophies will be awarded. There is no fee to enter and any one can participate.

Those wishing to attend and participate in Museum Day 2019 can visit Smithsonian.com/museumday to learn more and download a Museum Day ticket. Each ticket grants the ticket holder and one guest free access to a participating museum on September 21, 2019. A list of participating museums can be found at Smithsonian.com/museumday/search.

For more information, about the Brownsville event, contact the Heritage Center at 731-779-9000 or visit westtnheritage.com.

CAPTION: The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville will celebrate Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day with an antique tractor show and live music Saturday, September 21, from 9-2 p.m.

About the Center: The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, in Brownsville, offers a refreshing Southern experience showcasing the history and culture of rural West Tennessee. Inside visitors can learn about the history of cotton, explore the scenic and “wild” Hatchie River and get to know the legendary musicians who call West Tennessee home. Also located on the grounds is the Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School, the childhood school of Tina Turner, and the last home of Blues pioneer Sleepy John Estes. An official Tennessee Music Pathways location, the Delta Heritage Center is also a featured stop along the Americana Music Triangle connecting Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. To learn more about the Center, visit www.westtnheritage.com or call 731-779-9000.