Hunter Museum

I'm into modern art, and for a small private museum, they have a great collection. Someone has a great eye for abstract art. Check out the monumental Robert Rauchenberg collage painting. They also have a couple small but interesting Warhol prints, along with a few great sculptures by artists that you wouldn't necessarily know if you weren't in the art world, but that are quite good. The only gripe I have is that they're limited to American art, and much of the best abstract art came out of Europe after the War. Full disclosure: I am a member of the museum. more

The Hunter Museum is in the Bluff View district of downtown Chattanooga, with great cliff side views of the Tennessee River, as well as a nice collection of modern American art from the Colonial period to the present. The newly renovated building also offers special exhibits throughout the year. At a leisurely pace, you can complete a tour of the museum in 45 minutes to an hour. Volunteers are available to provide assistance as needed. The museum also contains a small gift shop and a cafeteria with an outside deck from which you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Restrooms are available on the ground floor. At $7.00 per ticket, for adults, and $3.50 for children, a visit to the Hunter Museum is a nice way to spend an hour on a lazy afternoon. For a combination of modern art and of the river and surrounding mountains, it's hard to beat. more