Our Favorite Museums in Nashville for Fall 2023

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Are you planning a trip to Nashville this Fall? Nashville has it all, not just the great live music that gives Tennessee’s capital the Music City nickname. Fall is a great time to visit Nashville with family and friends, whether looking for thrilling outdoor adventures, exploring the rich cuisine, walking tours for panoramic views, or relaxing and educational tour experiences. Your Nashville van tours itinerary can only be complete if it includes a few museum visits! But which ones to explore? 

Once you check out some of the top museums, you’ll easily transform your time in Nashville, TN into the most memorable experience. Here are our top museums to explore during your Nashville tour.

Jefferson Street Sound Museum

Location:  North Nashville

Jefferson Street’s music and creativity hub influenced Nashville’s development into what it is today, seen as an excellent entertainment center. Jefferson Street Sound Museum, founded in 2015 by Lorenzo Washington, preserves this history, which you can tap into by exploring the rich memorabilia. The museum is packed with the history of the songwriters, singers, and musicians who graced the popular Jefferson Street, including their costumes, instruments, and other notable artifacts.

Dive into the artistic and electrifying performance of popular names like:

  • Jimi Hendrix
  • The Staple Singers
  • Percy Sledge
  • Duke Ellington
  • Cab Calloway, to name a few.

The museum preserves and lets you experience what the popular Jefferson Street offered when it was lined with music clubs packed with show-stopping performances. Besides the nostalgic feel, you’ll enjoy live music and experience the creative process.

National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM)

Location:  Downtown

NMAAM was founded in 2002 by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. It is the only museum in the US dedicated to the rich history and culture of African American music. The museum immerses you into the rich story of African American music, its evolution, and how it has helped shape American culture and the global music landscape. It is a must-visit during your Downtown Walking Tour, especially for the music fanatics who fancy recording for personal use.

You’ll find exhibits highlighting various music genres, from gospel, blues, R&B, hip-hop, and jazz, to name a few. The museum also takes you through various influential producers, musicians, and songwriters, among other professionals, and how they shaped the music industry. You’ll also enjoy educational programs, including films covering African American music. Also, catch live music performances and even create your music from the recording studio in the museum.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Location:  Downtown

The Country Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1964. It is among the most popular tourist attractions, amassing over a million visitors annually. The museum is open all year and showcases an extensive artifacts collection, costumes, instruments, recordings, and sheet music, to name a few. The Hall of Fame immerses you in music legends from back in the day to modern hit makers – from our hometown hero Dolly Parton to recent inducted legend, Taylor Swift. 

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is especially a go-to for country music lovers, but it is huge and recommended as a Joe Nashville personal favorite. Fun fact, the museum houses a concert hall, theater, and research library. The diverse collection is sure to offer an unmatched experience and spice up your Walking Tour of  Nashville, TN. Book a custom tour of Nashville with Nashville Experience Tours to dive deep into the rich music history, its evolution, and modern entertainment scenery.

Johnny Cash Museum

Location:  SoBro

The Jonny Cash Museum isn’t like most celebrity museums. It is not simply a collection of memorabilia collected from auctions or other means. The museum offers an intimate immersion into the life of one of America’s iconic country music singer-songwriters. The world’s largest collection of Cash memorabilia and artifacts is family associated. This means you’ll find family heirlooms, handwritten lyrics, and deeper personal details, including his addiction struggles, marriage, and faith. It is truly a unique place to visit on your trip to Nashville, and located right in the heart of downtown. 

The Jonny Cash Museum is divided into 5 exhibit areas, each focusing on a particular area. The Personal Life exhibit takes you through his life beyond music. The Man in Black exhibit covers his musical journey. This is from the humble beginning and rise to stardom and how it marked his name as among the iconic stars of all time.

The American Recordings exhibit explores his later career. It includes the albums that revitalized his career and earned a new generation of fans. The Live Shows exhibit is loaded with Cash’s live performance artifacts like handwritten lyrics, costumes, and guitars. Finally, you’ll find The Legacy exhibit highlighting Jonny Cash’s work. You’ll learn how Cash helped shape the modern music arena and his legacy as one of the beloved iconic country music stars of all time.

Nashville Van Tours of the City

Conclusion 

There is so much to do in Music City! Don’t be surprised by the number of museums focusing on music; Nashville is a musical destination.  You can’t say you’ve really enjoyed the Unique Nashville experience if you don’t immerse yourself in the music world.

It is our professional opinion that the best Nashville tours must include at least one museum visit to enjoy live performances, explore the rich history, or even record a track for fun times. Besides the museums, our Nashville Van Tours are chock-full of history and all the weird and exciting tales you won’t want to miss! 

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