The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is right near downtown Nashville, at 301 6th Ave. South, just a couple of blocks south of Broadway, and one block west of the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Some of the musicians featured, like Jimi Hendrix are famous, while others  are not.  How about drummer Hal Blaine?  This LA session drummer isn’t well known, but has played on many many hit records.  The Museum is dedicated to the actual players on hundreds of hits from Elvis, Frank and Nancy Sinatra,The Byrds, The Mamas and The Papas and The Beach Boys, to name a few.  Also on exhibit at The Museum you’ll find the actual  instruments that were used in the recording of many of these classic hits.

They are always adding new exhibits, from all music genres, for you to enjoy.  The layout of the museum is based on the cities with a great recorded music history. Like Detroit, Nashville , Muscle Shoals, Los Angeles , Memphis and New York. In all these cities, there were musicians who were able to play any style that was needed,  back when the recording industry was evolving.  They had nicknames – The Swampers, The A TEAM, The Memphis Boys, The FUNK BROTHERS, and The WRECKING CREW.  You’ve heard of “Booker T and The M.G’s” and” TOTO”?  Guess what?  They started out as one of these studio bands. Up until the mid 1980’s, studio bands like these played on the majority of all the recordings made in these cities.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is proud of Nashville’s musical heritage also. Nashville, aka Music City, is well known for country music, but many other styles of music have always been recorded in Nashville. “Dust In The Wind” (Kansas), “Heart Of Gold ” (Neil Young) and “Lay Lady Lay” (Bob Dylan) – to name a few.

Whether you’re partial to Hank Williams Sr., or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or anything in between, you’ll find something of interest at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum .

This new $37 million location was opened in 2001, and the monumental appearance of this unique building livens up the skyline in Nashville’s downtown entertainment area.

The Museum has an incredibly vast collection to record country music’s history, and inside, the crown jewels of the collection are presented, illustrating the story of country music spanning centuries.

You’ll find treasures of historic recorded music, rare video footage, changing exhibits, live performances and other public programs, live broadcasts, as well as dining at SoBro Grill & Catering and shopping at the Museum Store.

Seeing the exhibits of the Hall educates and excites country music fans of all ages and experiences, from the newest fans to those who’ve loved country music for many years.

As you walk through the exhibit halls, you’ll see the progress of country music starting in the fields and honky-tonks of the south, all the way the Grand Ole Opry and the blockbuster hits of our country stars today.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is self-guided, so you can view it at your own pace – folks generally take 2-3 hours.  The Museum offers an Audio Tour (70 minutes), narrated by Eddie Stubbs (WSM Radio & Grand Ole Opry announcer), including features hosted by Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Trisha Yearwood.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum presents “Sing Me Back Home” as a permanent exhibit covering two entire floors of the building, an exciting trip through the life of country music.

Using original recordings, objects, photos and video, and interactive touchscreen panels, Sing Me Back Home steeps visitors in the sound and history of country music, and the lives and voices of its esteemed stars.

As the “Sing Me Back Home” tour ends, you’ll enter the Hall of Fame Rotunda, another permanent exhibit.  This is the sacred space where Country Music Hall of Fame® members are honored with bronze plaques recognizing their induction into the Hall of Fame.

A visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is an essential part of any trip to Nashville. You’ll find it is both educational and fun. And with the appreciation of the history of Nashville’s music you’ll gain a better appreciation of Nashville.

There’s lots of public parking around the museum, and the entire building is accessible to wheelchairs, with elevators to all floors.