Before collecting became a trend, Anna Safley Houston was already building a remarkable collection of treasures from across the country. During the late 1800s, she traveled extensively by train, worked as a buyer for major retailers like Marshall Field’s and Macy’s, and even spent time touring with the Sullivan Sisters hair tonic show. When she eventually made Scenic City home in the early 1900s, she brought that adventurous spirit with her. She opened a millinery shop, operated an antique store, and spent decades gathering more than 15,000 pieces of glassware, pottery, textiles, furniture, and decorative objects. Her collection became the foundation of what is now the Anna Safley Houston Museum of Decorative Arts in Chattanooga’s Bluff View Art District.

What makes her story so memorable is the determination behind it. At a time when women faced significant barriers in business and travel, she built her collection and career on her own terms. After her death in 1951, Chattanooga residents came together to preserve her vision, leading to the museum’s opening in 1961 and its move to a permanent home on High Street in 1968. Today, the museum continues to honor her legacy through a multi-phase restoration of its historic 1890s building. Planned improvements include an elevator, expanded textile storage, and a conservatory classroom that will help connect future generations with the area’s rich cultural history. It is expected to open in fall of this year. 

Location: 201 High Street

Store Schedule: 

Price: $10 [Gen Admission 18 and up] $9 [Seniors] $5 [18 and below] | Buy tickets here.

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