It decided that the state needed a museum to deal with various collections from the state and mementos from World War I. Most of the museum operations moved to the James K. Polk Building in 1981, which it shared with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center through May 2018.
The state realized that a museum was needed to manage its various collections and wartime memorabilia from World War I. Most of the museum's activities were relocated to the James K. Polk Building in 1981, where it coexisted with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center until May 2018.