Tucked into the city’s history is a vibrant music scene that helped shape American blues — one that thrived along a stretch of road known simply as “The Big 9.” NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Most people know Chattanooga for its stunning mountains and rivers. But tucked into the city’s history is a vibrant music scene that helped shape American blues — one that thrived along a stretch of road known simply as “The Big 9.” Ninth Street, on Chattanooga’s west side, was once the heart

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bessie Smith Cultural Center Announces 2026 Big 9 Music Fest Free Community Festival Celebrates the Legacy and Culture of Chattanooga’s Historic Big 9 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Bessie Smith Cultural Center is proud to announce the return of Bessie Smith’s Big 9 Music Fest, presented by Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. This free community event h

Free summer admission for active duty military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day Chattanooga, Tenn. – June 2, 2026 – The Bessie Smith Cultural Center is proud to participate in Blue Star Museums, a nationwide program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families throughout the summer. The 2026 program runs from Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2026, through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 202

New exhibit focuses on the development and legacies of Rosenwald Schools in the state FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tyler Broome Director of Digital Media and Museum Experience | Bessie Smith Cultural Center 423-266-8658 tbroome@bessiesmithcc.org Debbie Shaw Senior Curator of Archaeology | Tennessee State Museum 615-253-0144 Debbie.shaw@tn.gov Chattanooga, TN – June 1, 2026 – Bessie Smith Cultural Center presents Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Sc

EMPRESS OF THE BLUES: I explored the legacy of local icon Bessie Smith, and her impact on American music, as the nation prepares to celebrate 250 years.