Location: Nashville
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Things to do in Nashville, Tennessee (TN): The Best Specialty Museums
With live music to be heard all across town, 24/7, 365 days a year, Music City lives up to its name. From honky-tonk bands jamming at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to songwriters in the round at the Bluebird Cafe and country music legends rocking the Grand Ole Opry, you never know who you might see. The creative spirit from Nashville's music landscape flows into the area's myriad art galleries, up-and-coming fashion scene, historic landmarks and chef-driven restaurants.
Restaurants in Nashville
1. Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
2. National Museum of African American Music
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and celebrating the accomplishments of the music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. The collections found in the museum will share the story of the American soundtrack by integrating history & interactive technology to bring the musical heroes of the past into the present.
Reviewed By 999kellyc - Nashville, United States
The museum is worth a visit — or two — because it is informative and fun. There are exhibits to see, hear, and experience the evolution of African American music and see its influence far beyond one community in American. A great addition to Downtown and Music City. I bought a membership so that I can go back again. It’s a good value. Great location as far as restaurants and the new 5th and Broadway complex. Parking in the garage was straightforward.
3. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,476 reviews
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the home of this popular American art form, safeguarding over 2.5 million artifacts, with two expansive floors of gallery space featuring permanent- and limited- engagement exhibits. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is also home to Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print. It offers three dining and four retail options, all open to the public. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
If you are visiting Nashville, Tennessee, chances are you are here to see what makes Music City tick, from the Grand Ole Opry to Ryman Auditorium to the many museums dedicated to country music and its legendary recording artists from Jimmie Rodgers to Hank Williams to Roy Acuff to Patsy Cline to Johnny Cash. Located at 222 Fifth Avenue South, the 350,000-square-foot Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the world's largest and most active and popular music research centers and the world's largest repository of country music artifacts, more than 2.5 million. Chartered in 1964, the museum houses 200,000 sound recordings, 500,000 photographs, more than 30,000 moving images on film, video and digital formats, hundreds of musical instruments, thousands of items of clothing, oral histories and iconic vehicles, including Elvis Presley's 1960 "Solid Gold" Cadillac and Jerry Reed's 1980 Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit II. The museum attracts more than 1.1 million visitors a year. So what do you want to see? Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio, where recordings by Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Waylon Jennings were made. The bronze plaques of the Hall of Famers that are displayed in the museum's 70-foot-high rotunda. Glen Campbell narrating the history of country music. Maybelle Carter's Gibson L-5. Earl Scruggs' banjo. Bill Monroe's mandolin. Patsy Cline's cocktail dress. Johnny Cash's black suit. Reba McEntire's red dress. Start with the museum's core exhibit, "Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music," which immerses visitors in the history and sounds of country music, its origins and traditions, and the stories and voices of many of its architects, then take a tour of the museum to experience what country music is all about.
4. RCA Studio B
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,349 reviews
Historic RCA Studio B--once the recording home of popular music titans such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, and The Everly Brothers--is both a classroom for Nashville area students and a popular cultural attraction. First made available to Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum visitors in 1977, RCA Studio B was donated to the Museum in 1992. Studio B tours are available as part of the Museum's platinum ticket package, which also includes Museum admission and audio tour, and depart from the Museum hourly between 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. Transportation provided.
Reviewed By PamThuer - Middletown, United States
By far a must see! Definitely worth the extra money to tour Studio B. Our tour guide was amazing and extremely kind, very knowledgeable on artists. Loved this tour!
5. Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,595 reviews
The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson, is one of the largest and most visited presidential homes in the United States, and recently named the #1 historic house in Tennessee. Today, The Hermitage is a 1,120-acre National Historic Landmark with over 30 historic buildings, that welcomes some 200,000 annual visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren, from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Visit Andrew Jackson's Hermitage to witness "The Duel: The Art of the Southern Gentleman." This 30-minute visitor experience will answer questions about dueling followed by an ACTUAL demonstration by our historic re-enactors. “The Duel” takes place every Thursday through Sunday throughout the day, free with paid admission.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home from 1804 until his death in 1845, has been acclaimed the fourth best Presidential site in the nation by USA Today, behind the White House, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and George Washington's Mount Vernon. Located at 4580 Rachels Lane in Davidson County, 10 miles east of downtown Nashville, the Greek Revival structure has a rectangular layout, about 104 feet from east to west and 54 feet from north to south. The main entrance includes a central block with a five-bay, two-story structure with a portico supported by six modified Corinthian style, wooden columns. Within the portico is a two-story balcony. One-story wings flank the mansion. Inside, the main block of the house consists of four large rooms separated by a center hall. At the far end of the hall is the elliptical cantilevered staircase with mahogany handrail that leads to the second level. Notice the crystal chandeliers and Italian marble mantels and the entry hall with plank flooring painted dark and decorated with block-printed wallpaper made in Paris, France. To the right of the entrance hall are two bedrooms that were occupied by Jackson and his son. On the second level are four bedrooms that once were occupied by guests such as Sam Houston, the Marquis de Lafayette, James K. Polk and Martin Van Buren. Perhaps the most interesting feature in the house is a rustic mantelpiece called the "Eighth of January" that was carved by a veteran of the Battle of New Orleans, who worked on the mantelpiece on each anniversary of the battle until he finished on January 8, 1839. The Hermitage, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, can be viewed in via a two to four-hour self-guided tour, a 90-minute guided tour of the mansion and grounds and access to the mansion's balcony, a tour of the grounds via a horse-drawn wagon allowing a glimpse of what life was like on the 1,000-acre cotton plantation and two tours that include access to the mansion, grounds and exhibit gallery, an interpreter-led tour of the mansion, a self-guided auto tour of the gardens, grounds and the other historic buildings, a self-guided tour of the farmland that used to be the Heritage Planation and viewing a film, "Andrew Jackson: Born From A Star," at the visitors center. Also of interest is the large brick smokehouse at the rear of the kitchen that was built in 1831 and cured 20,000 pounds of pork a year and a nearby slave cabin known as Uncle Alfred's Cabin, named for Alfred Jackson, who was born into slavery on the property in 1812 and worked as a freedman after Emancipation and stayed on as a caretaker following the purchase of the estate in 1889 by the Ladies' Hermitage Association. He died in 1901 and was buried near the tomb of the seventh President of the United States and his wife, Rachel, who died in 1828. There is so much to see at the Hermitage, so much history and so many stories.
6. The Upper Room Chapel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
Christian Art Chapel - Home of The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide and the Upper Room Chapel and many other ministries. Chapel has a nearly life size wood carving patterned after da VInci's Last Supper and a 20 ft tall stained glass window. Free parking easy access
7. Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,080 reviews
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum honors musicians from stars to studio players, from all genres of music. Historic artifacts include instruments played on original recordings of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hank Williams, Sr., George Harrison, Frank Sinatra, The Supremes, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Chicago and more. See the original stage where a young Jimi Hendrix played. "To be recognized by this institution is the greatest honor a musician can have." -Neil Young.
Reviewed By mydogs4
We had so much fun at this museum. There was so much to see and do here. Lots of interactive displays which we got to explore - played with several musical instruments, listened to a variety of genres of music and learned about all the behind the scenes layers that go into making music. Saw so many of my favourite performers and their histories. It was a fun and delightful way to spend a cold, rainy day in Nashville!
8. Lane Motor Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 891 reviews
Lane Motor Museum in Nashville features the largest European collection of cars and motorcycles in the United States. Admission ranges from $3 to $12, with children ages 5 and younger admitted free, making it a great family excursion.
Reviewed By scottrA3361XW - Silver Spring, United States
If you are into cars, you must see this collection. (Almost) all of the collection is offbeat in some way, but never boring and very well signed. Focused about 50% on micro and/or experimental one offs, this is not a museum of heavy classics or 50's flash, but the truly interesting 'oh yeah?' or 'they though of this then?' type of vehicles. All displayed with plenty of room around to take photos from all angles. Really worthwhile and a different perspective than you may have been used to. Due to the eclectic nature (and whimsy) with which things are displayed a car guy could keep his family - even kids - entertained throughout. Late in the visit (had to be somewhere else - which in fact I should have skipped to spend more time here) I encountered a very informative and helpful staffer - and learned there is a basement tour available as well. Will return at some future date and budget a couple of hours to explore that! Really, a highlight of this trip.
9. Tennessee Agricultural Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Located on the spacious grounds of the Ellington Agricultural Center, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum has an extensive collection of home and farm artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries. You can also view log cabins, a kitchen/herb garden, perennial garden, and a nature trail. We're FREE admission and would love to answer any questions you have over the phone.
Reviewed By rickj675
The TN AG Museum is a great family friendly museum where you can learn about the history of TN Agriculture and the people who lived it. Awesome staff and great location and events, small enough to not feel overwhelmed on your visit.
10. The Johnny Cash Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,848 reviews
The Johnny Cash Museum features the world's largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world. Walk through the life of the Man in Black depicted in interactive exhibits, films and much more. We feature a Bongo Java Coffee Shop and Museum Cafe. Officially endorsed by the Cash Family. The museum recently received the coveted AAA GEM rating; the highest bestowed on an attraction. We are one of only six attractions in Nashville to have this distinction.
Reviewed By IllyCoffeeDrinkers - Flagstaff, United States
While driving from Flagstaff to DC, the male half of IllyCoffeeDrinkers and one of our kids spent a day and night in Nashville in order to take in the sites, music and food. The Johnny Cash Museum is a must-see location for all Johnny Cash and music fans. The museum contains a spectacular collection of John Cash awards, memorabilia, personal items, informative exhibits and photos (a few photos are attached). As Johnny Cash fans, we were inspired to learn so many things about his career, family, friends and artists he collaborated with. It is truly incredible how many songs Johnny Cash recorded, and the number of people involved in his music. As we walked through the exhibits, we kept wondering – did this guy ever sleep? Our bottom line, if you are a Johnny Cash fan, or just a music fan, this place is definitely worth a visit. If you found this review helpful and/or our photos helpful or pleasing, we hope you will click the “helpful/thank you” button. Those of us who write detailed reviews appreciate the feedback and it encourages us to write additional reviews for everyone’s consideration. Thank you.
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