Our family went on a grand adventure last weekend. We went back in time to when knights fought the fight and for the women’s hand. The Frist Art Museum has the coolest exhibit on knights right now — Knights in Armor, on display until October 10, 2022 — that tells the tale of the European knight from the Middle Ages and Renaissance through to the medieval revival of the nineteenth century.
The Knight in Armor Exhibit at the Frist is located on the second level of the museum. It is so neat. Be on the lookout near the beginning of the exhibit for the plaque on the wall explaining the special kid’s tour that will tell how Marco became a knight in shining armor. It is a kid-friendly story that is told throughout the area on how Marco went from a squire to a knight. It is fun to look for, find the posters, and follow his journey. The exhibit is fun for all ages, with more in-depth descriptions for adults to read and enjoy, but the story of Marco is fun for the younger ones. Also, check out the additional Knights in Armor family activities online, including a recommended reading list and downloadable activity sheets that will help you discover your own knight name and create an epic tale like a jester!
The exhibit is throughout a few rooms and is neat to look out. There are all things knights from the swords to full displays of knights on horses (not real horses lol). Seeing the designs and items up close was mesmerizing. I do not understand how they created such beautiful pieces of metal. My kids really enjoyed the display. It is so neat to see such history in person. Brought me back to when I was little and loved the movie Sword and the Stone.
After you enjoy the Knight area, do not forget to stop in the Martin ArtQuest for some hands-on fun. I enjoy it probably more than my kids do. ArtQuest has some year-round art areas to explore like the printing press and watercolor painting table. However, they have added a knight twist to a few areas as well. You can design your own family crest, make a stop action clip using knights and things, design an armor for a horse model, draw a knight in shining armor, and you can even add different weight items to feel how heavy the gear was for the men. We spent around an hour exploring this area. So make sure you leave time to explore and get hands-on before you leave.
As a reminder to those who might not be familiar with the Frist, kids under 18 get in free! Yes, you saw that — kids under 18 get in free. The museum is not open Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can see their hours and can check on what exhibits they currently have on their website.
If you find that you can’t make it to see Knights in Armor in person, the Frist is having a virtual tour on Sep 29 as a part of their Frist at Home series. Registration is required.
The Frist Art Museum is located at 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203.