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The World's Largest Cast Iron Skillet inside the Lodge Museum of Cast Iron in South Pittsburg

Museums and memorials

Tours & History

The world's largest cast iron skillet, a German rail car holding 11 million paper clips, and a hall full of tanks and jeeps. Start with these three.

Several of these museums open only certain days or by appointment. Check each museum’s website or Facebook page before you drive in.

Lodge Museum of Cast Iron

Lodge has poured cast iron in South Pittsburg since 1896. The museum inside the flagship store tells the story of the family and the foundry, and it’s home to the World’s Largest Cast Iron Skillet. There’s a campfire cooking exhibit, a cookware wall, and a restaurant in the building for lunch.

The World's Largest Cast Iron Skillet with a fried-egg display Campfire cooking exhibit with a blue VW van and camp chairs Wall of cast iron cookware around a glowing Lodge logo
  • Address: 220 E 3rd St, South Pittsburg, TN 37380
  • Hours and admission: Check Lodge’s website before you go. South Pittsburg is on Central Time.
  • More: Our Lodge guide covers the museum, the factory store and where to eat nearby.

Children’s Holocaust Memorial

In 1998, students at Whitwell Middle School set out to collect six million paper clips, one for each Jewish life lost in the Holocaust. Clips came in from around the world. Eleven million of them, one for every victim, now rest inside a German rail car on the school grounds, among letters and keepsakes people sent.

The rail car under its pavilion behind an iron fence An open suitcase, letters and a heart stone on a bed of paper clips inside the rail car A painted butterfly sculpture on a black granite pillar beside the school
  • Address: 1 Butterfly Lane, Whitwell, TN 37397
  • More: Plan a memorial visit, including visiting times and how to arrange a tour.

Sam H. Werner Military Museum

A museum in Monteagle that honors veterans and teaches military history to younger generations. The hall is packed with restored vehicles, from WWII jeeps and a 1942 Dodge command car to an M5 Stuart light tank, along with uniforms, weapons and artillery.

The Sam H. Werner Military Museum building and sign A 1945 Shore Patrol Willys jeep on display The museum hall from above, with artillery and rows of vehicles

Check hours and admission on the museum’s website before you go.

Jasper Regional History Museum

Covers Marion County and the Sequatchie Valley. The collection includes Civil War memorabilia, heirloom quilts, military uniforms, photographs of early Jasper businesses, exhibits on local veterans, and Jasper’s first modern fire truck.

  • Address: 715 Phillips Ave, Jasper, TN 37347
  • Hours: Saturday mornings, other times by appointment. Check the Facebook page before you go.
  • Admission: Free
  • More information: the museum’s Facebook page

South Pittsburg Heritage Museum

The town’s history in objects, including vintage photographs, antique gas ranges and cast iron cookware from its industrial years. It pairs well with the Lodge museum a few blocks away.

  • Address: 316 S Cedar Ave, South Pittsburg, TN 37380
  • Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, other times by appointment. Check the website before you go.
  • Website: historicsouthpittsburgtn.org

Whitwell Marion County Coal Miners Museum

More than 500 artifacts from the area’s coal mines, including photographs, mining tools and personal items donated by local families. The museum is in the former Orena Humphrey Library, and retired coal miners staff it and tell visitors what the work was like. It’s in Whitwell, the same town as the Children’s Holocaust Memorial, so you can see both in one trip.

Check hours and admission on the museum’s website before you go.

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