Tennessee State Library And Archives Hosts Ribbon Cutting And Grand Opening Ceremony Tuesday, April 13, 2021
The new Tennessee State Library and Archives courtyard facing the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
The Tennessee State Library and Archives hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony with dignitaries, elected officials and Library and Archives staff on Monday to celebrate the opening of its new state-of-the-art building.
After the Bicentennial Mall’s Carillon Bells welcomed guests and the Tennessee Army National Guard Color Guard presented the colors, five-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman sang the national anthem.
Former U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, Governor Bill Lee, former Governor Bill Haslam, Secretary of State Tre Hargett and State Librarian and Archivist Chuck Sherrill spoke about how the vision for the beautiful new Library and Archives became a reality.
Sixteen years in the making, a new facility for Tennesseeâs State Library and Archives opened to the public on Monday, marking a new chapter in the preservation of the stateâs history and heritage.
On the northeast corner of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the new building boasts 40% more storage space for materials than the previous location, and increased capabilities for preservation of the materials. Thereâs also more space for members of the public to do research.
âAn archive is the repository for the raw materials of history, materials that can help illuminate one familyâs history or to help us understand how men and women acquire power and then use it for the benefit or to the detriment of the people,â said former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who delivered the keynote address at the opening. âMany Americans will find here the raw materials of history that will illuminate their lives.â