Beck Cultural Exchange Center
Knoxville, Tennessee's Museum of African-American History And Culture
The Beck Center is a reservoir of information on and for African Americans and people of all races who are interested in the rich history of our community. Its exhibits are great teaching tools.
Additionally, the Beck offers cultural moments such as the popular “First Thursdays Live”.
Located just a few blocks from Downtown Knoxville, the Civic Coliseum and other strategic sites, as well as being within easy walking distance of the famed Alex Haley Statue at Haley Heritage Square, the Beck Center is a major tourist attraction for those visiting the Knoxville area.
The Beck Center was founded in 1975 and named for the late James and Ethel Beck, prominent members of the Knoxville community and founders of the Ethel Beck Home for Orphans, who bequeathed money to purchase its present site on Dandridge Avenue.
The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is temporarily housed at 900 Volunteer Landing (formerly the Gateway Visitors Center), next door to the Riverside Tavern while our permanent headquarters at 1927 Dandridge Avenue is being renovated.
Our Web site offers the online community a brief tour of our facility and a look at why more than a half million people have found the Beck Center to be a source of information, photographs and documents on the history and culture of Black Americans in the Knoxville area.
It's easy to find one of Knoxville's "hidden" treasures.
Gift Shop
No tour is complete without a trip to the Gift Shop. Beck Center's Gift Shop has a wide variety of merchandise visitors can purchase, such as clothing, memorabilia and other items that serve greatly as gifts or souvenirs of your visit. Most of these items are created or contributed by local African-American vendors.
Call us at
865-524-8461
