Whether you are a country fan or not, Nashville, aka Music City, is a wonderful place to immerse yourself in American music. Here are some great museums to check out.
(Photo: Britt Reints via Flickr.com/ CC BY 2.0)
Vibrant, fun, easy going, and with an almost never-ending country music backing track, Nashville never disappoints. The capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee is not called Music City for nothing, it is filled with live music venues, honky tonk bars, and of course institutions like the Grand Ole Opry, meaning you can hear live music pretty much any night of the week. During the day, if you are up and early and haven’t indulged in too much of Tennessee’s other export, bourbon whisky, then there are some great museums and memorials to country music and beyond to visit, explaining the history and significance of Nashville. Here is where to start.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
(Photo: Rich Ogin via Flickr.com/ CC BY-ND 2.0)
The first stop to learn about country music, from its roots to the present day, should be the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This is one of Nashville’s top tourist draws and of interest even if you can’t tell Garth Brooks from George Strait – it’s a fascinating visit for everyone. The attraction opened in 1967 on Nashville’s Music Row, before moving to its current downtown location in 2001. In 2014, the Museum unveiled a $100 million expansion that doubled its footprint, now spreading over 350,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, archival storage, retail stores, event spaces, and the Taylor Swift Education Center for students, teachers, and families. As well as an all-encompassing history of country music, there is an unrivalled collection of artifacts, photographs, recorded sound, archival video, and interactive touchscreens.
The Johnny Cash Museum
The Johnny Cash Museum has only been open since 2013 but it has already picked up a host of awards and accolades, including Best Music Museum by USA Today. It’s an unparalleled collection of all things Cash – in fact it claims to be the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of artifacts related to the Man in Black. This isn’t just music memorabilia, although there is plenty of that, but also intriguing articles from Cash’s life, whether that is his junior high yearbook or some of the Gothic furniture from his Tennessee home that burnt down shortly after being bought by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. If you’ve built up an appetite after visiting the museum then it’s worth popping to Johnny Cash’s Bar & BBQ for decent Southern food and drinks.
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
(Photo: Michael Gaylard via Flickr.com/ CC BY 2.0)
Not to be confused with the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame is a different, but equally interesting, place to visit while in Nashville. The key difference is that the Musicians Hall of Fame, as the name suggests, honours great players from all genres, not just country music. This institution doesn’t just look to well-known artists but also gives those lesser-known session players, producers, and engineers in the worlds of rock, R&B, jazz, and more, the spotlight for once. There is a wide range of instruments on display, as well as interactive displays, memorabilia, and lesser-known stories about American music.
National Museum of African American Music
The National Museum of African American Music, or NMAAM for short, is a must-see when in Nashville. Opened in 2021, this 56,000-square-foot institution is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the huge number of music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. It is a mesmerizing journey through expertly curated collections, all telling the story and the huge role African Americans had in creating the American soundtrack. There are several galleries to explore, each focusing on a different genre and time, with various interactive displays, artifacts, objects, memorabilia, clothing, and state-of-the-art technology to give a unique perspective on African American music and history.
Music Statues in Nashville
A novel way to navigate Nashville is to hunt out the music statues that are dotted around the city. These include a statue of Tennessee, native Chet Atkins, a highly regarded musician and producer situated outside the Bank of America Nashville headquarters at 401 Gay Street. Musica at the end of Division Street, in the center of the Music Row Roundabout, is a bronze statue designed by local artist, Alan LeQuire, to reflect the importance of music to Nashville, past, present, and future. Finally head to the entrance to Owen Bradley Park where you’ll find a life-sized statue of country record producer, Owen Bradley, who was instrumental in developing the “Nashville Sound” in the 1950s and 1960s, sitting at a giant grand piano.
TOURS
Rhinestone Roots: Nashville’s Country Music History Tour
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
This is a fun and affordable walking tour of Music City. The knowledgeable guide explains how Nashville became the centre of country music, with plenty of lesser-heard stories and solid country facts. Over the space of 1.5 hours, you’ll hear about everyone from Dolly Parton to Hank Williams and even a bit of a lowdown on Taylor Swift. You’ll get to see the legendary Ryman Auditorium, hear tales from the Grand Ole Opry, and mosey down the iconic Broadway. and take in some of Nashville’s most important musical sites. For around 20 bucks it’s a bit of a bargain too. From €21.92.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Nashville: Music City Nighttime Trolley Tour
For something a little different try this night-time tour of Music City. You’ll be travelling by trolley through Nashville, past the honkey tonk bars on Broadway, and past landmarks such as the Tennessee State Capitol and the Parthenon. What makes this tour even more unique (as if a night-time trolley wasn’t enough) is that the guide also performs live music as you go. You’ll get to hear fascinating stories and intriguing facts about Nashville’s music heritage and learn more about the music scene past and present. This 1.5-hour tour is fun and informative – there is nothing quite like it. From €42.92.
Book at Getyourguide.com