The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts is a unique cultural institution, opened in the 1960s inside a 1890s Victorian house in Chattanooga’s Bluff View Art District to honor the legacy of Anna Safley Houston, a pioneering businesswoman and antique collector.

From the early 1900s through the 1940s, Ms. Houston curated a remarkable collection of decorative arts that now includes over 15,000 items, spanning glassware, pottery, textiles, furniture, and much more. Her entrepreneurial spirit and foresight in bequeathing this collection to Chattanooga’s community have made the museum an invaluable resource for local history, artistic heritage, and educational enrichment.

In the spring of 2024, we began a full restoration of our beloved home. During the renovations, we opened a Pop Up Museum and Gift Shop, just 1/2 block from our original location. Be sure to visit us at 412 East 2nd Street inside the former Back Inn Cafe, a picturesque 1920s home overlooking the Tennessee River with mountain views. We have 3 rooms curated with decorative arts from Anna Safley Houston’s collection, as well as a lovely gift shop inspired by Anna’s love of Victorian style.