The Doak House Museum became a museum in 1975, having previously been a residence for the Doak family, who helped establish Tusculum Academy, which later became Tusculum University.
The Tennessee State Museum has awarded a $40,000 grant to Tusculum University to put toward the maintenance and enhancement of the University’s Doak House Museum. Tennessee’s Legislature made available $5 million in grant funding for museums, and the Tennessee State Museum disbursed the funding to more than 100 museums across the state following an application process.
According to an article on Tusculum University’s website, Dr. Peter Noll, who serves as professor of public history and museum studies at Tusculum University, said of the grant, “We are thrilled to receive these funds and are grateful to the state for recognizing the value of our historic structures. The Doak House has become a focal point for many of our public events at Tusculum that have enriched personal lives in the past few years. These additional resources will support our efforts to incorporate and celebrate the past as we enjoy these facilities well into the future.”
Among the improvements and repairs made to the museum include repairing the parking lot, repairing trim, and repairing windows. Two years ago, separate funding via fundraising went toward repairing the chimneys on the property.
The Doak House Museum is an important part of Tusculum University’s campus. Events like various camps, Tennessee Tree Day, Greeneville Farmer’s Market, nature trails, and “Edgar Allan Poe and Other Haunted Stories in the Woods” from the Tusculum Arts Outreach all take place on the grounds of Doak House Museum.
The University is hoping to expand the programming that makes use of the Doak House Museum in the future, including “Doak After Dark,” which will include screenings of movies on the gable of the museum.
For more information about Tusculum University, visit the school’s website.