Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm and Museum
Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm and Museum
Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm and Museum
3.5
About
The only pearl farm in America.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
1 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
3.5
45 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
12
Average
9
Poor
5
Terrible
6
Konasmother
Monterey, TN202 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Due to Covid, the museum was shut down for awhile, like so many other businesses. It is now open, harvesting continues, and it’s so educational! From what my husband and I learned, many, many locations were researched for the perfect conditions for the pearl farm. How amazing that the perfect place was a small town in middle Tennessee. Michelle was our guide, and was knowledgeable enough to answer my 1002 questions….bless her heart!! I wanted to bring her home with me! There was so much information that I find myself googling things I “should” have asked, but had to “digest” first. I find it incredible that they send the “seeds” abroad, they grow and harvest the pearls, then send them back to us, where our people create the treasures we purchase! While you may not be a person who appreciates pearls, the history and process is fascinating!
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa M
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Family
Took the grandkids here over Thanksgiving break. They all opened their own mussel and learned where pearls came from. Everyone was super friendly and the lady that toured us was super nice and patient. It is an inexpensive educational trip for the kids and adults. They also have a lot of beautiful jewelry all hand strung. I will for sure go back!
Written 30 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NewbernTraveler
Newbern, TN857 contributions
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.
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.
Written 2 August 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fetustician
Nashville, TN485 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Museum: We went to visit this and.. it no longer exists ! Apparently burned down Dec 2016 and they have not updated their web site !
Written 8 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As of March 1, 2018 we are OFFICIALLY OPEN and in a new handicap accessible building of 3500 square feet. The facility is located on the resort's 58 acre property and has a 60 inch big screen, pearl video, heat/AC, full kitchen and dining area, stage, museum artifacts relative to the mussel and pearl industry and 5 showcase stocked with beautiful pearls for sale. We are open 7 days a week from 9 am to 4:30 pm for the museum. The walk in pearl tour is FREE. Donations are appreciated. For GROUP TOURS please write me at: bob@birdsong.com or call 731.584.7880 or 731.584.1996. We have overnight cabins starting at $ 100 per night for two and are fully furnished. Also, we rent canoes, kayacks, fishing and pontoon boats. Bob Keast, 2nd Generation Family Owner Since 1961. "Our Business is Your Pleasure".
Written 11 March 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jbhbass
Brentwood TN1 contribution
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
Happy Camper
Written 28 October 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcia-43034
Hurricane Mills, TN4 contributions
Jul 2012 • Family
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.
Written 28 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jean r
Nashville, TN54 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
Not only a great southern experience but fascinating information about natural pearls. Owners very eager to enhance your visit and give their time for your enjoyment. Includes great shopping and accommodations for groups. Worth the trip off the usual path. Price is right Must view the free film.
Written 20 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandcastlelady
Lenni, PA118 contributions
Jack and I visited the Tennessee River Freshwater Parl Farm and Museum, and found it very interesting.
Written 19 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele W
Camden, Tennessee, United States12 contributions
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.
Written 25 June 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann W
Memphis, TN1 contribution
Apr 2015 • Solo
I was in Camden, TN for the day with a friend. Because of another obligation she had, I visited the pearl farm by myself. I thought it quite fascinating! I was the only tourist there that Saturday morning in April (2015). While there were no tours being given that day, I did see the 7 min video and then was free to look about in the museum on my own. The employee there that morning was most helpful and knowledgeable, as she answered all of my question very well. Having said the above, I would still call in advance to visit when tours are offered. One other thing: down the street there is a restaurant on the river. It was supposed to open at noon. I'd planned on having lunch there, but was informed, just about noontime, that due to other obligations, lunch was not being served that day. So the restaurant, it seemed to me, was not too reliable a place to plan for your mid-day meal. However, this did not detract from my visit to the pearl farm museum. I'm glad I went!
Written 7 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing