The Parmalee Malacological Collection at the McClung Museum for Natural History and Culture is the largest mollusk collection in Tennessee and among the top five largest collections on college campuses in the U. S.; located at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, it hosts over 175,000 specimens in over 25,000 lots (or records). It has mollusks from all 95 counties in Tennessee, most of which are freshwater mussels. The collection spans 29 countries and 6 of 7 continents (excluding Antarctica). Reach out to curator Gerry Dinkins (gdinkins@utk.edu) to schedule a visit!
The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is exhibiting a freshwater stream ecosystem, including freshwater mussels! The aquarium’s Ridges to Rivers gallery showcases native fish and mussel species in a simulated river ecosystem. View mussel species such as the painted creekshell, threehorn wartyback, and purple wartyback.
Conservation Fisheries, Inc. may not focus on mussels, but they do restore imperiled native fish populations -- and fish are essential to mussel reproduction! One of CFI's projects is to propagate host fish species to support mussel hatcheries, which target mussel populations more directly. Tour or volunteer at their Knoxville facility to learn more about CFI's work.
An amazing online resource
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - myfwc.com/research/freshwater/species-assessments/mollusks/host-fish/
Ohio State University - u.osu.edu/biomuseum/2016/09/05/freshwater-vs-marine-mussels/