History & Heritage
Whether you’re a native, a transplant or just passing through; it’s hard to miss the sense of community pride in Marion County, Tennessee. Our small towns each have unique, storied histories with rural roots that run deep. The preservation of these histories is vital to ensuring that our culture lives on in an increasingly global world. We invite you to enjoy the traditions and experiences that shaped our people and our region.
Local Attractions
South Pittsburg Heritage Museum
The South Pittsburg Heritage Museum is now open to the public at 316 S. Cedar Avenue in the downtown. The museum, operated by our Society, features many artifacts from our city’s historic past.
Jasper Regional History Museum
The Jasper Regional History Museum offers a glimpse into Jasper’s storied past with exceptional exhibits of regional artifacts and memorabilia including Native American objects, Civil War and military pieces, and a collection of early pioneer and homesteading items.
Coal Miners’ Museum
The Marion County Coal Miners Museum is a community project led and operated by 7 retired coal miners whose rich stories and history bring these artifacts to life. The museum’s collection is completely sponsored by the donations of miners and their families and has grown to over 500 pieces which are currently on display.
Paper Clips Story
In 1998, something amazing happened in the town of Whitwell, a small rural community of fewer than 2,000 people nestled in the mountains of Tennessee.
Whitwell Middle School principal Linda Hooper asked language arts teacher Sandra Roberts and associate principal David Smith to begin a Holocaust education class that would be the basis for teaching tolerance and diversity in a voluntary after-school program.
Princess Theater
The beautifully restored Princess Theatre (formerly known as The Imperial and The Palace) in downtown South Pittsburg, has been a landmark within this community since 1921. The theaters operated here over those years entertained the local population since the days of the silent movies.