Our Mission
Our mission is to preserve and interpret the history and culture of the Ocoee District of Tennessee by highlighting the adventures of its people.
The Museum Center is dedicated to connecting people with their past, and linking that past with the future.
In the four years leading up to groundbreaking, a series of retreats, public forums, and surveys involving more than 500 residents established our organizational mission -- "To preserve and interpret the history and culture of the Ocoee District of Tennessee by highlighting the adventures of its people" – and identified four distinct community needs that this project will meet:
Creating a place to preserve our heritage – to give our residents, our children and our area's visitors a sense of the rich history and positive values of this area we call home. Cleveland and Bradley County had been the only community its size in Tennessee without a facility dedicated to the preservation of its historic artifacts. Tourism plays a burgeoning role in our region's economy – some 275,000 people rafting the Ocoee River in 1997, for example, according to the Tennessee Department of Conservation – and a dynamic, well-conceived Museum provides an incentive to visitors to extend their stays. Even more crucial is outreach to our own community, already ongoing through the museum's school programs. Our goal is a minimum of seven contacts with every Bradley County schoolchild by Grade 6. Creating a showcase for the entrepreneurial spirit that continues to fuel our community's success. The State of Tennessee recently identified Bradley County as its fifth largest manufacturing center in terms of number of employees. This community's success in creating jobs and prosperity for its people is a source of deep pride; that story must be preserved to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs and employees. Creating a cultural center for the community, with flexible space and programming designed to showcase the talents of our citizens. This aspect will ensure that the facility will be used and enjoyed daily and will be a vibrant part of our community for years to come. Creating an anchor for the 5-Points revitalization project in downtown Cleveland. In July of 1994, MainStreet-Cleveland, our downtown development organization, identified the 5-Points area near the railroad depot as its next focus for revitalization. Independently, the Museum Board of Trustees had identified available property on Inman Street at 5-Points as their first site choice. Just as the Aquarium led redevelopment of downtown Chattanooga, the Museum Center stimulated revitalization on a scale appropriate for our community.
The Museum Center serves as a bridge between Bradley County's collective memories and stories -- our region's inheritance -- and the future. It is a legacy for generations to come.
