Despite its relative youth in relation to many other countries, the United States has a rich musical history. From the folksy mountain sound of Appalachian music to the energetic beat of rock and roll, American music has set trends that other cultures around the world have followed. The importance of music in American culture is evident in the establishment of some of the most exciting museums commemorating music across the country. Listed below are some music museums located in the United States that everyone should take the chance to visit. The Country Music Hall of FameLocated in Nashville, Tennessee (also known by its nickname “Music City, USA”), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a beautifully-designed, 350,000-square-foot building only a block away from the famous Broadway honkytonk bars where many classic country stars got their start. The museum is home to more than 2 million artifacts collected since the earliest years of country music, including stage costumes, instruments, and early recordings of classic stars. It also features rotating exhibits on both early and modern musicians in the genre and offers numerous educational programs and instrument demonstrations to students and visitors who have a passion for country music. The American Jazz MuseumThrough performance, education, and research, the Kansas City, Missouri-based American Jazz Museum aims to help the public understand the value of jazz as an indigenous American art form, preserve its history, and drive the development of the genre forward. The museum helps to tell the story of jazz music through art, film, performance, and exhibitions that shed light on the lives of legends like Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. Guests to the museum also have the chance to take in a professional performance from talented musicians at both the local and national level at the establishment’s Blue Room jazz club. The Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was founded more than three decades ago in Cleveland, Ohio, by executives from Rolling Stone Magazine and Atlantic Records. It seeks to commemorate the significant impact of rock and roll music on American Culture. The recognizable architecture of the museum includes a double-pyramid made of glass and a tower that is 162 feet tall, containing over 50,000 square feet of exhibition space dedicated to the music and histories of its members. Visitors to the museum are able to view items such as early drafts of iconic songs, original album artwork, and the personal instruments of some of the world’s most famous rock and roll musicians. Each year since 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has awarded membership to a collection of new musicians voted on by a group of 900 music industry veterans, historians, and existing Hall of Fame Members. The first class included Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Brown, and Fats Domino, while the most recently inducted class of 2017 included Joan Baez, Journey, Tupac Shakur, Pearl Jam, Yes, and ELO. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)The Musical Instrument Museum is notable for being the only global musical instrument museum in existence. Located in the desert of Scottsdale, Arizona, MIM’s collection includes over 6,500 different musical instruments from early history to modern day that belong to a wide range of cultures from around the world. Guests tour the museum wearing headsets and interact with video screens placed throughout the premises in order to understand what different instruments sound like and to learn more about their origin and use. On the building’s second floor, instruments are separated into five different galleries based on the continent from which they hail. On the first floor, guests can view items and memorabilia from the tours of American music legends in the Artists Gallery or experiment and play with an array of unique instruments in MIM’s Experience Gallery. GracelandGraceland is a Memphis, Tennessee-based museum located on rock and roll icon Elvis Presley’s former 14-acre estate. Visitors begin by taking an interactive iPad tour of the eponymous mansion, where the Presley lived from 1957 until his death 20 years later. In addition to a glimpse into his home, Graceland guests also tour other buildings on the estate, including the star’s trophy and racquetball buildings. Tours end at the meditation garden, where Presley is buried. Afterward, visitors with upgraded tickets are taken onward to Elvis Presley’s Memphis, a 200,000-square-foot complex that encompasses several other museums, including the Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum, Presley Motors Automobile Museum, and the Elvis Discovery Exhibits. Shopping, restaurants, and a themed hotel are also available onsite for those who are interested in a fuller experience. Motown Museum The Motown Museum is a testament to the legacy of Motown Records, an independent label that produced over 180 hit songs and changed the trajectory of American pop music with its distinct sound. Located in several buildings on West Grand Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, the museum’s collection contains rare photos, apparel, and items owned by major Motown stars.
Guests also can take tours of the famous Studio A, where many of the label’s greatest hits were recorded. Famous groups which contributed to the Motown sound and which are featured in the museum’s collection include Gladys Knight & the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross & the Supremes. Comments are closed.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Marina K Caprara