Here a pearl diver surfaces with his bag to show the various types of mussels that are native to the Tennessee River

Diver John Nerren opens a freshly harvested mussel in search of a natural pearl

Again John Nerrin demonstrates the opening of a natural river mussel

In bad weather or at low water, Bob brings a live mussel into the showroom for his shell opening demonstration

Diver John Nerren loads freshly harvested mussel shells into a machine that rolls the shells around and extracts the mussel tissue

In good weather, folks board a pontoon tour boat for a up-close and personal look of the pearl farming operation

After the pearl farm tour, the group then travels to Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park atop Pilot Knob overlooking the beautiful Tennessee River & Kentucky Lake

Inside the Visitor's Center on Pilot Knob, Bob explains how a brail boat operates and more on the history of musseling in the Tennessee River

This is a shot of the actual brail boat rig inside the Visitor Center atop Pilot Knob

The brail rigs can be seen in this photo

This photo is a rare shot of a pearl technician nucleating an acclimated mussel. This process is a highly guarded secret.

Here a cultured freshwater pearl is being removed from the mussel.

This photo shows NBF Ranger Tim Burris, Tour Guide Bob Keast and the late John Latendresse at Pilot Knob

Customers can shop the Pearl Jewelry Showroom for the finest in Pearl Creations from our pearl farm, or from all over the world. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Steinhouse join in marriage in Jamaica. The bride chose a freshwater pearl necklace from Birdsong's freshwater pearl jewelry showroom.

Bethel Springs Baptist Church,
Finger, TN