Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

A guitar is just a guitar until you know who played it.

That idea is what makes the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum worth exploring. Its collection includes physical pieces left behind by country music history—handwritten lyrics, instruments, stage clothes, photographs, recordings, cars, and objects that once traveled with the people who made the music.

The museum was established in 1961, with its first permanent Nashville home opening in 1967. In 2001, it moved downtown, placing the collection within walking distance of the Ryman, Lower Broadway, and many of the places where Nashville's music history actually happened.

Inside, the story stretches from country music's earliest roots through the artists still shaping it today. Some artifacts belonged to names almost everyone recognizes. Others introduce musicians, songwriters, producers, and moments that are easy to miss in the larger story.

Eventually, the exhibits lead to the Hall of Fame Rotunda. Bronze plaques line the circular room, honoring the people elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

But don't let this be the end of the history lesson. Walk back outside. The studios, stages, record shops, publishing houses, and streets you've just been reading about are all around you.

This is where you learn the story. The rest of Nashville is where you find it.