In 1986 Clay County did not have a museum, so a group of citizens decided this was a good time to establish one since the State of Tennessee was having Homecoming ’86. With the help of many volunteers and businesses, the building and location on which the Museum is now located was established. Clay County Museum, Inc. was chartered as a non-profit corporation in the State of Tennessee on July 16, 1986 and on March 8, 1989 received confirmation from the IRS the Museum qualified as a 501 (c) (3) organization for tax exempt status.
The Museum is operated by a Board of Directors consisting of seven (7) members who establishes the operations of the Museum through the Bylaw of the organization.
The mission statement of the Clay County Museum, Inc. in Celina, Tennessee provides unique educational experiences based on pictures, objects, storied and lives from our Clay County traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. Our purpose is to inspire people to learn from those traditions to help shape a better future for the citizens of Clay County.
Goals of the Museum are to:
1. To make the visitors of the Museum aware of what the Museum has to provide for the enlightenment and enjoyment of the history of Clay County.
2. To provide a learning and friendly environment for those who visit the Museum.
3. To reorganize all of our features in a manner that can be easily viewed and very accessible to those who visit the Museum.
