Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Chattanooga

A Chattanooga landmark, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center honors African-American heritage through artistic and educational programming in its museum and performance hall. The museum hosts educational exhibits including "Bright Ideas: African American Inventors" and the Fine Art of Jazz. Students can learn to create their own art in summer classes or participate in a school field trip. Every year, the museum also sponsors a Heritage Festival with original art, live music, and food tastings down Martin Luther King Boulevard.