Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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The first Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened on Music Row in Nashville in 1967 to honor country music's hottest stars who had been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2001, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum moved to its current location in downtown Nashville. It expanded in 2014; it's currently 350,000 square feet. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is home to numerous artifacts, memorabilia, archival music storage, exhibits, and more related to country music and its musicians. When you visit, you'll understand why some people refer to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as the "Smithsonian of Country Music."
How to Get There
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is close to Nashville International Airport and John C. Tune Airport. It is in Nashville and near the cities of Murfreesboro and Hendersonville. Nearby transportation options include Gray Line Tennessee, AJ Transportation, Inc., and WeGo Central.
Rent an RV For Your Visit to Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Visit Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
One obvious sight to see at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music. This part of the museum is the main exhibit in the facility, so it's full of photos, artifacts, archived videos and more detailing the lives of country music's most extraordinary voices. If you want to learn more about the modern state of country music, then you should check out American Currents: State of the Music, which details some of country music's advancements made over the past year.
Another awesome part of the museum is Hatch Show Print, which is a letterpress print shop that has made tour posters for country music stars since 1879. If you like its work, you can buy some of its prints in the gift shop.
Historic RCA Studio B is another fabulous part of this facility to tour if you want to walk in the footsteps of country music legends like Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton. Some of country music's most famous tracks were recorded here, so this famous studio is worth visiting.
If you want to catch a country music show, then you may want to visit the CMA Theater. This 776-seat venue often hosts bluegrass, country, Americana and folk acts.
Ticket Information
General admission to the museum is $27.95 for adults, $17.95 for children aged 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. If you want to tour the museum and Historic RCA Studio B, you'll need to pay $49.95 for adult admission and $39.95 for youth admission. To tour the museum and experience the Hatch Print Show Print Tour, you'll need to pay $49.95 for adult admission and $34.95 for youth admission. A ticket to tour and experience everything costs $71.95 for adults and $56.95 for children.
Family-Friendly Options
The most family-friendly part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the Taylor Swift Education Center. This facility is open during museum hours, so you can easily stop by and tour the interactive gallery, view student art exhibitions and even attend a family programming event.
When you visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, you can pick up a Young Explorer Kit free of charge at the museum's box office and information desk. This packet is geared toward young children, but older kids might also enjoy its activity pages and supplies.
If you visit when a show is scheduled, you'll be able to take in a performance of String City: Nashville's Tradition of Music and Puppetry with the whole family. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum co-produces this tribute to country music with the Nashville Public Library. Several types of puppets representing country music's most influential stars tell the story of country music's evolution throughout time.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Since the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum uses a timed ticketing system, you need to make sure you're on time for all your tours. If you want to see all that the museum has to offer, you should purchase the Experience It All ticket. The tours of the Hatch Show Print and RCA Studio B are at set times, so you should plan your visit around them since the tour of the museum is self-guided. You can take photos in the museums and during most of its programs, but you can't use flash. Selfie sticks and tripods aren't allowed.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Accommodations
Campgrounds Nearby
When looking for a great getaway right in the heart of the city, this Nashville campground is the place to be. You’ll enjoy a downtown shuttle to Music City and come back to your deluxe RV site at the end of the day. Spend time relaxing on your patio with friends reliving the best moments of your trip.
Two Rivers Campground is a quiet park that offers comfortable accommodations for those seeking short- or long-term stays. RV campsites complete with stationary patios make extended stays much more comfortable for everyone in your group. For added convenience, this park offers a camp store with all of the necessities you’ll need.
As long as your RV doesn’t exceed 50 feet in length and 20 feet in width, you will be a happy camper at this park. Some sites allow you to back right up to J. Percy Priest Lake for an awesome view. In fact, this RV resort is surrounded by the lake on three sides and sits next to a marina.
Activities Near Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Things to Do
Climbing
Nearby Cumberland Park features a stone climbing wall called The Gorge.
Hiking
Centennial Park contains a one-mile hiking trail and an exercise trail. Cumberland Park has a crushed-stone trail called The Explorer Trail.
Boating
You can take a riverboat cruise on the Cumberland River courtesy of outfits like Pontoon Saloon and River Queen Voyages. You can also go boating on J Percy Priest Reservoir.
Fishing
The J Percy Priest Reservoir is a great place to catch bass, trout, sunfish and more.
National Sites
Weather, Safety & Accessibility
Weather & Packing
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is indoors, so weather isn't a significant factor in enjoying it. On average, Nashville's hottest month is July, so you would likely want to be indoors when it's 90 degrees outside. January is Nashville's coldest month; average temperatures of 39 degrees might also make you want to explore an indoor attraction.
Safety & Accessibility
Security guards can inspect any bag or container brought into the museum. No weapons are permitted in the museum, and no type of smoking is allowed on the premises. Adults must accompany any child younger than 13 years old.
Wheelchair-accessible entrances, theater seating and restrooms are available at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The hearing-impaired can benefit from the Audio Tour, which is compatible with T-coil and available for listening on a helpful headset. The visually impaired can receive a large-print guide of the Audio Tour as well as Braille descriptions of a variety of exhibits and information guides.
Conclusion
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is an amazing place to visit whether you're a country music buff or a casual fan who wants to learn more about this fascinating musical genre. The best of country music's past and present are on display here, so you should explore this interesting museum when you're visiting Nashville.
FAQ
There aren't any camping options in Nashville, but you can find campgrounds nearby on the Cumberland River and the J. Percy Priest Reservoir.
No RV camping is available at the museum, but you can park your RV at Trinity Park and RV Campground, which is 10 minutes away. Other great RV camping options are the Nashville KOA Resort, Two Rivers Campground, and Nashville RV Resort and Cabins. These are all located in a bend of the Cumberland River.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and its various tours run on a fairly strict timetable, so you need to be on time for all scheduled tours. If you're late to your queuing area, you might miss your tour.
People of all ages can participate in multiple family-friendly activities at the Taylor Swift Education Center. Another great activity for families is to watch a production of String City: Nashville's Tradition of Music and Puppetry.
No pets or emotional support animals are allowed on the premises. You can, however, bring your service animal as long as it is recognized as such by the ADA.