Austin Peay and Customs House Museum Recognized for Innovative Clarksville Walking Tours
Austin Peay State University and the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center have been awarded the 2026 Award of Excellence by the Tennessee Association of Museums for their collaborative student-driven walking tour project in Clarksville. Under the guidance of Dr. Cate LiaBraaten, assistant professor of history, students from various disciplines designed and led tours that highlighted Clarksville's diverse history. The tours, which were free and open to the public, attracted 150 attendees and covered topics such as Black history, Jewish American history, women’s history, natural disasters, and public art. The project aimed to merge archival research with public engagement, allowing students to conduct original research and present it in a meaningful way to the community. 
