Exhibitions include significant artifacts related to the state's history, along with displays of art, furniture, textiles, and photographs produced by Tennesseans.

Most of the museum operations moved to the James K. Polk Building in 1981, which it shared with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center through May 2018.

Larger exhibits included reproductions of a historic print shop, a painting gallery, and a grist mill.

Under the terms of its 20-year lease made in 2007, the Tennessee State Museum reserves responsibility for major maintenance of the Lorraine Motel.

Certain parts of the motel have been preserved for their historic aspects related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.