Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Nashville, Tennessee
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is a must-see and must-hear site in Music City. “Sing Me Back Home,” the museum’s permanent, core exhibit, takes visitors from country’s roots in folk, blues and church hymnals to its inclusion in mainstream American culture in the 1950s and 1960s. The two-story exhibit includes historic artifacts and original recordings, archival video and newly produced films, original photographs and interactive touch screens. Exhibits then lead guests through country music of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today with costumes, concert posters and instruments from musicians such as Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam and Garth Brooks.
Temporary exhibits explore the work of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn. Others explore the contributions of more contemporary artists, including Shania Twain and the husband-wife team of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
www.countrymusichalloffame.org
National Blues Museum
St. Louis
The National Blues Museum opened in April 2016 in downtown St. Louis. Museum officials chose St. Louis for its location in the heart of the Blues Belt and for its important role in the history of the genre.
The museum’s 23,000-square-foot exhibit floor leads guests on a chronological exploration of the blues, from its roots in the America South in the 1800s, north to St. Louis and Chicago, and then nationwide, as an essential piece of the American musical landscape in the 21st century.
Hands-on experiences and one-of-a-kind artifacts drive the interactive exhibits. As visitors progress through the galleries, they can create their own blues persona, music and album artwork. Each stop is a step toward completing their own blues song that they can take home as a souvenir. Groups can also time their visits with public events such as weekly blues concerts and other music performances, as well as lectures and films.
