This story is exclusive to subscribers.

Remember When, Chattanooga? Creative Discovery Museum opened in 1995

Contributed photo / This photo, from the Creative Discovery Museum archives, shows visitors gathered outside the Chestnut Street attraction on its opening day in 1995. Contributed photo / This photo, from the Creative Discovery Museum archives, shows visitors gathered outside the Chestnut Street attraction on its opening day in 1995.

By Mark Kennedy May 2, 2025 4 min read

Children who attended the grand opening of Chattanooga’s Creative Discovery Museum in the spring of 1995 may now have kids of their own who can experience its wonders.

A multigenerational gathering is planned for the children’s museum’s 30th anniversary celebration May 10.

In honor of the anniversary, the Creative Discovery Museum will roll back ticket prices to levels not seen since its opening during the Bill Clinton administration. Adults will pay $7.95 for entry May 10, and kids’ tickets will cost just $4.95.

The accompanying photo shows the exterior of the museum on opening day, May 26, 1995, when families flocked to the highly touted museum on Chestnut Street. It was part of the city’s late-20th century renaissance sparked by the Tennessee Aquarium.