tennessee river freshwater pearl farm and museum

Daughter was excited about this freshwater pearl museum so we decided to take a break in out trip and drop in, after a 9 mile drive down windy road we ended up in a trailer park by marina still looking for museum only to find it in a shed with yardsale/flea market in front of it. Walked inside to find a VERY tiny room full of basically her pearl collection!!! Even though it's free don't waste your time getting off highway!!!

We have always seen the signs from the interstate and decided to go and se what it wa about.Very disappointed. Nothing like we thought it would be. Pass this one up, not worth your time.

This is a delightful off the main stream experience. This facility is with the Birdsong Marina, Exit 133 of I-40. They have a Freshwater Pearl Museum, Pearl Farm and Tour showing the very unique way the pearls are harvested using muscles. When President Clinton was in office, both Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Gore received necklaces made from these pearls. We enjoyed our visit and would have liked to take the glass bottom boat tour where the muscles are kept, but ran out of time.

We were passing through Camden and decided to check this place out. The informational video was not working the day we were there. We looked around the 'museum' for a few minutes and headed on down the road. Didn't really learn anything.

i guess it is just old news i have fished and dug shell on the river all my life so it was nothing i had not already seen

This place is overrated. The owner puts a whole lot of stock into advertising, but it is extremely trashy place and not worth the money.

Jack and I visited the Tennessee River Freshwater Parl Farm and Museum, and found it very interesting.

My daughter, who makes jewelry, noticed signs for this attraction on a trip through this area last Spring. She asked if we could stop in on our way to Texas for her internship. We expected it would be a little hokey, and it was. Probably if we had at least 15 people and could take advantage of the full tour experience it would have been better. The museum is basically a one room display in a facility that sells/rents boats. We bought an interesting necklace made by a local artisan using the local pearls. They had some pretty pricey necklaces, etc with pearls from Asia as well. The woman who worked there was very nice. It's only 9 mi off the interstate, so it was not a regrettable exit, I just wouldn't plan a trip to specifically go there unless with a large group.

I learned plenty about the fresh water pearl business and how it operates, very interesting. The owner Ms Keast also has information on the raising of a Federal boat sunk in the Civil War plus many other interesting tid bits. I think the resort would be a fun place to stay in the summer, lot's of activities. We also went to see the Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Center which gave information on river life over the years and pearl diving. Will go back, had fun.Happy Camper

In a small room, just off the office area of the Birdsong Resort, on Kentucky Lake, is a museum dedicated to the growing of freshwater pearls. The museum is interesting, but if you aren't a big pearl fan, I wouldn't make the trek up off I-40 just to see this. I'd add it in on a route to include the Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, and the Kentucky Lake area around Paris, and Paris Landing State Park, to the north.The whole idea of growing pearls is interesting, however. The museum tells the story of how a Camden area man saw freshwater pearls being cultivated overseas. He came home and began looking for just the right lake, with the right PH balance in the water, to do it here. Amazingly, the best lake was Kentucky Lake, just a few miles from his home. Inside the museum are displays of pearls grown here, and a video of a TV show interview done on the farm. The actual farm is underwater. You drive down to the marina at the Birdsong Resort, and in the distance, toward the highway, you will see wooden slats floating in the water. Under these slats are wire cages containing mussels attached. The mussels have been artificially implanted to try and make a pearl. The whole process takes several years, and there is no guarantee that it will succeed. At the time of this writing, a pearl grown in this way would bring about $10. The museum is free, and worth a short stop if in the area. The highway to Birdsong is not one of Tennessee's best, so take it easy getting there.