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The Tennessee State Museum is sharing images of what its new home will look like on the inside once completed.
Exhibit designer Patrick Gallagher showed reporters Wednesday renderings of how the building under construction on Bicentennial Mall could look once completed in the latter half of 2018.
One of his main intentions was making it inviting, even for people who can't yet read. One display turns the state capitol, Ryman Auditorium and the Hermitage into cartoonish playhouses.
"This should be a place that's comfortable for people and familiar, and if you start them at 4 years old, they remember it as a great experience," he said. "What you want is that next generation, as they grow up and use it as a resource for schools, come back for different programs and events, and ultimately someday they're going to be a parent bringing their 4-year-old back here."
The new location will also feature lots of digital displays and an open floor plan. Gallagher says that'll make it easier for curators to add new information, move around artifacts around and make other changes as Tennessee's future unfolds.
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