The Charles Hall Museum exists to preserve regional and Appalachian history with an emphasis on the Greater Tellico Plains area. Born in Tellico Plains in 1924, Charles was a local historian since boyhood. Among the first white settlers in the area, his mother’s family settled in Tellico Plains by 1830. His father’s family settled in the area by 1908 and moved within the city limits in 1929. Charles served Tellico Plains as mayor for 31 years, as alderman-recorder for two years, as Justice of the Peace for six years, and as a county commissioner for six years. Showcased in two Museum buildings are his magnificent collections of historical memorabilia, artifacts, equipment, guns, antique telephones, coins and currency, photos, and so much more. Along with his collections, the Museum has acquired many public donations since opening in 2003. There are currently over 8000 artifacts and thousands of historical pictures and documents either displayed or archived for future reference. Tellico Plains is a special place with a rich heritage and limitless possibilities.
The Museum operates as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation governed by a board of directors. Charles and his wife, Billie built Building #1 of the Museum in 2003 and Building #2 in 2008. In 2019 over 35,000 people visited the Museum. Many were school children on field trips that came to learn about our Appalachia heritage. The Museum is funded in part by a percentage of sales from the the gifts shops that are located on the premises. Admission is free, but your contributions help ensure the long term financial stability of the Museum. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
A few of the artifacts in -
CHARLES HALL MUSEUM BUILDING 1
330 plus historical firearms- 450 year old Matchlock Musket, 1776 Brown Bell Musket, 1824 Harpers Ferry Rifle, a British Sten gun, plus 30 caliber & 50 caliber machine guns
Antique Coins and Currency- 1/2 cent to $10,000 gold certificate
Native American tools, projectile points, beads, jewelry, pottery, and more
1800s pig irons from Tellico Iron Works
Antique tools and cross cut saws
Local historical pictures, documents, and maps
First bank safe and deposit boxes in Tellico Plains
Sound & music machines- first 1887 Edison phonographs, Victor Talking Machines, Victrolas, antique radios, and first television in Tellico Plains
Office Machines- unique antique typewriters, adding machines, post office and bank machines
Antique musical instruments- 1800's organ, Melodian, Ukelin, guitar, mandolin, and a 6 sided harmonica
A few of the artifacts in -
CHARLES HALL MUSEUM Bld 2
TELEPHONE MUSEUM SECTION
400 plus antique telephones from 1880's to 1980's
800 plus unique telephone insulators
16 Manual Switchboards-last one used in Tennessee and the last one used in Tellico Plains
Cross section view of underground cable vault
The last Electromechanical Dial Switching Station used in TN, set up and working (1926-1986-South Pittsburgh, TN)
500 antique telephone tools and test equipment
4 telephone booths, including a cast iron booth from England
Complete local Moonshine Still
1934 Restored Plymouth automobile
1922 Model T Ford telephone truck
Commemorative Harley Motorcycles
Antique tools, logging tools, log tongs, saws, and black smithing tools
Early Appalachian homesteading artifacts include antique washing machines, cook stoves, pots, treadle sewing machines, weavers loom, spinning wheels, and corn grinders
USFS Fire Finder from local Fire Tower
1906 Permanent Wave Machine
1860s grinding stones from Barney Creek Mill in Coker Creek area
Flip treadle dentist drill from late 1800s
Madisonville, TN antique railroad cart
