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Creative Discovery Museum

Corner of Chestnut and 4th. Search for Lost Dinosaur Bones! Build Slot Cars! Create Your Own Music! Walk Through A Picture! Captain a ship in RiverPlay! Creative Discovery Museum isn't just for children, although it was designed for them in mind. There are lots of interactive exhibits here, enough to keep even the most hyperactive of kids entertained. Revolving exhibits, such as "Clifford, the Big Red Dog" and "Curious George" keep the Museum fresh for multiple visits. Creative Discovery Museum was voted as one of the top 20 children's museums in the nation by Child magazine. Plan on spending approximately 2 hours in the Museum. Value-pack tickets for the Aquarium, IMAX and Creative Discovery Museum are also available. Visit the website for current hours.

Hours: Daily 10AM-1PM, 2-5PM
Price: Adult or child $16, senior 14, military or first responder $10
Website: cdmfun.org (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Chattanooga, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Tennessee Aquarium
The Tennessee Aquarium features two buildings, "Ocean Journey" and "River Journey." The River Journey focuses on freshwater environments, carrying you through mountains forests, swamps, valley and lakes, both in the Tennessee Valley and throughout the world. Some of the special attractions are the seahorses and otters. The Ocean Journey building offers opportunity to touch stingrays, visit a butterfly garden and see sharks. Both buildings stand out in the skyline with their pitched glass roofs and have become a popular landmark for photographers. Expect to tour for at least two and a half hours, more during the summer. During the summer, hours are extended and tickets are time-stamped. Purchasing tickets in advance during the summer months (or even all year) is an extremely good idea. Not only are they cheaper, you can also plan on an entry time. Combination tickets for the Aquarium, IMAX and Creative Discovery Museum are available. First admittance at 10AM and last at 6PM, outside of summer months.
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Tivoli Theater
Known as the "Jewel of the South," the Tivoli has entertained Chattanoogans, offering everything from silent movies to Broadway blockbusters, for over 75 years. One nugget of its history: in 1926 the Tivoli became one of the first public buildings in the country to be air-conditioned. The Tivoli was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and received a $7-million renovation that was revealed to an excited audience in 1989. The Tivoli is the home of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association. It also offers a venue to other music artists, Broadway shows and dance troupes. The Tivoli has installed a movie projector, calling back to its early days a first-class movie house.
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Houston Museum of Decorative Arts
Located in a century-old Victorian house in the Bluff View Art District. It is home to antique glass and ceramics, as well as antique furniture, music boxes, coverlets and other rare pieces from the collection of the late Anna Safley Houston. It boasts the world's largest collection of pitchers.
Open Mon-Fri 9:30AM-4PM. Open seasonally on Sat and Sun. Closed major holidaysAdults $7, children (4-12) $3.50. Discounts available for groups of 20 or more
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Hunter Museum of American Art
Perched on an 80-foot bluff on the edge of the Tennessee River, the Hunter Museum of American Art offers stunning views of the river and the surrounding mountains. This panorama is equaled only by the exceptional collection of American art inside recognized as one of the country's finest.
Open Mon Tue Fri Sat 10AM-5PM; Wed noon-5PM, Thu 10AM-9PM, closed Wednesdays Labor Day through Memorial Day$7 for adults, $3.50 children 3 - 12