Museums

Hotel MetropolitanHotel Metropolitan


The Hotel Metropolitan located at 724 Oscar Cross Drive is a hotel built in 1909 to house African-American travelers. After extensive renovations, the hotel is now a museum that pays tribute to African-American heritage and to the well-known people who stayed there including Ike and Tina Turner and Louis Armstrong. 



Inland Waterways Museum


The Inland Waterways Museum (previously known as River Discovery Center) located at 117 South Water Street has several educational interactive exhibits. The Center celebrates Paducah's maritime legacy and lore. Interactive exhibits tell the story of the Four Rivers Region. Captain a towboat, pleasure watercraft, or Coast Guard buoy tender through various scenarios in the pilothouse simulator. Visit Inland Waterways Museum for more information.



Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum


The Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum is located at 631 Kentucky Avenue. The 1852 Greek Revival home owned by Sons of Confederate Veterans was once the residence of Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, CSA.  Exhibits highlight Western Kentucky's role in the War Between the States. The museum is open April through November and by appointment throughout the year. Contact the museum at 270-575-5477 for admission prices and hours of operation.



Paducah Railroad Museum


The Paducah Railroad Museum is located at 200 Washington Street.  It's a project of the Paducah Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society that showcases equipment and memorabilia from America's railroads. Contact the Paducah Railroad Museum for hours of operation, exhibit details, and admission prices.



The National Quilt Museum of the United States


The National Quilt Museum of the United States located at 215 Jefferson Street was established to educate, promote, and honor today's quiltmaker, quilts, and fiber art. The museum also hosts educational programs on a diverse number of topics for quilters of all skill sets.  As the largest quilt and fiber art museum in the world, The National Quilt Museum showcases breathtaking exhibitions in nearly 30,000 square feet of contemporary gallery space.



Whitehaven Welcome Center


The Whitehaven Welcome Center, located at 1845 Lone Oak Road off Interstate-24 Exit 7, is a restored 1860s mansion.  The beautiful welcome center features period furnishings and memorabilia of Paducah native Alben Barkley, who served as Vice President under Harry Truman. Whitehaven is a Classical Revival residential structure  and the only historic home in Kentucky serving as an interstate Welcome Center.  Lobby is open 24 hours for the traveling public with vending machines and restrooms.  Free tours are available.  For more information call 270-554-2077.



William Clark Market House Museum


The William Clark Market House Museum is located at 121 South 2nd Street in a historic market house building.  The museum has 4,000 square feet of rotating exhibits and artifacts from Paducah's past staged within an 1876 drugstore.  Visit William Clark Market House Museum for more information including interesting facts about history.



Yeiser Art Center


Located at 200 Broadway, Yeiser Art Center offers a permanent exhibition space and a permanent collection in addition to rotating exhibits.  The Center strives to continue the development and appreciation of the visual arts.  For more information about current and upcoming exhibits, visit Yeiser Art Center.