New Tennessee state museum campaign yields $25m in donations

NASHVILLE – The new Tennessee State Museum project has yielded more than $25 million in donations by corporations, foundations and individuals.

In a news release Monday, museum officials said the money committed during the initial “silent phase” puts the campaign more than halfway toward its $40 million fundraising goal.

Some notable companies that contributed include CoreCivic, HCA Healthcare, Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, FedEx, AT&T, Verizon Foundation and Nissan North America, Inc.

Well-known political names and their families who donated include Gov. Bill Haslam, House Speaker Beth Harwell, U.S. Rep. Diane Black and former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist.

Haslam and lawmakers secured $120 million in the 2015-2016 state budget for the museum, with the $40 million extra to be raised.

The new museum in Nashville is set to be open in late 2018.