Looking for best museums in Nashville to explore in your next trip? Nashville, the Music City, is truly the perfect option for you. Though the name emphasises only on music, but trust me, there would be roughly few cities in the United States that are home to dozens of world famous museums just like Nashville. The diversity ranges from art museums, cultural museums, musical instrument museums, history museums and many more. Exploration opportunities are literally endless!
So, be little more enthusiastic and read on the list to explore one of the best Nashville museums that you must visit when thinking about exploring these wonderful Nashville attractions in your leisure weekend.
1. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Address: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone No: (615) 416-2001
Hours: Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
When talking about the best museums of the Music City, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum should come first in mind. With the mission of preservation of American vernacular music, it is world’s one of the largest museums located in downtown Nashville. Visitors can spend their entire day while exploring the world’s most extensive musical collections and artifacts that are housed in this world famous museum.
Opened in April 1st in 1967, and with the pure purpose of providing information of the history of country music, the museum displays the growing collection of costumes, historic cars, photographs and many history-touched interesting artifacts. Oral history programs are also conducted. Multiple first-class exhibitions are lined up on a regular basis.
The 350,000-square-foot facility’s other offerings include rotating exhibits, the ACM Gallery. The ACM Gallery features the annual exhibition through which music industry’s recent past is portrayed.
2. Tennessee State Museum
Address: 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208
Phone: (615) 741-2692
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am till 5 pm; on Sundays from 1 to 5 pm; closed on every Monday.
Originally established in 1937, and the new facility opened in 2018, the 137,000-square-foot Tennessee State Museum is one of the largest museums in Nashville, locating close to Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street. This is a great museum to go with family along with younger kids to make the kids more knowledgable about the history of the state.
With the free admission charge for visitors, the museum’s highlights include six rotating galleries, a painting gallery, a digital learning center, a hands-on children’s gallery and the most interesting Tennessee Time Tunnel through which the state’s history is displayed through the museum’s permanent collection.
The museum also displays exhibits on a variety of weapons, paintings, and furniture. So, exploring one of Nashville’s best free museums on any weekend is a great way for the ultimate Music City experience!
3. Adventure Science Center
Address: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 862-5160
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays; 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Featuring 44,000-square-foot space, the non-profit Adventure Science Center is the perfect place for those who get pure enjoyment when it comes about exploring and discovering things in astronomy, physics, biology, earth science and subjects like these.
With the purpose of delivering dynamic learning experiences to the children, this science and technology center features more than 175 hands-on exhibits on science and technology related things.
Opened in 1945 as the Children’s Museum of Nashville, other highlights of this science museum include the Sudekum Planetarium and a 75-foot-tall adventure tower.
Moreover, the museum’s state-of-the-art 63-foot dome theater provides the opportunity to host private events. The facility also conducts multiple interesting shows, and laser shows, concerts are just few among them.
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4. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Address: 4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage, TN 37076
Phone: (615) 889-2941
Hours: Open daily. From 8:30 am to 5 pm from April 1 through October 15; 9 am to 4:30 pm from October 16 to March 31.
Located 10 miles east of downtown Nashville, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, simply the Hermitage is the 1,000-acre Greek Revival style historical museum. Originally it was home to Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the United States.
Listed on the National Historic Landmark in 1960, this presidential home receives more than a quarter million visitors per year, also it’s the fourth most-visited presidential residence in the country.
With the mission of showcasing the lives of enslaved African American families, the significant museum boasts a visitor center where multiple exhibits are displayed. So, make your visit an unforgettable journey into the past through the tour of this mansion where history comes alive!
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5. Tennessee Central Railway Museum
Address: 220 Willow St, Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: (615) 244-9001
Hours: Only on Saturdays from10 am till 2 pm.
This unique railroad museum is a small non-profit facility and a popular destination among many local families where is something energetic to see and do for all ages. Inside the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, there are railroad artifacts and memorabilia including a tiny gift shop and a large room where model trails are displayed.
With the purpose of preserving, maintaining and operating historic railroad equipment, the facility also offers historic theme based train rides on selected Saturdays. And also serves with educational purposes.
Must take the ultimate nostalgia train ride to feel this wonderful piece of history that is alive on the rails. Many excursions are available too to expand visitors’ experience!
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6. Frist Art Museum
Address: 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 244-3340
Hours: Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm; Friday, Saturday and Monday from 10 am till 5:30 pm; Sunday from 1 to 5:30 pm.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the First Art Museum, formerly known as the First Center of the Visual Arts is a great art museum that Nashville offers us. Located in the historic U.S. Post Office building, this famous art exhibit hall was established in 2001 with 24,000-square-foot of gallery space.
Multiple art exhibitions are displayed showing the talents of local, state and regional artists. Also, some programs including many international exhibitions are house in this top-rated Nashville Museum.
The highlight of this art exhibit hall includes Martin ArtQuest, a permanent interactive gallery space featuring a painting station, a drawing station, a shadow theater, a sound pattern station, a stop-motion animation tool and so many interesting things. So, the attraction is a must-visit spot when in Nashville, specially for those looking to spend a memorable day with dear ones.
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7. Gallery of Iconic Guitars
Address: 1907 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 460-6984
Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4:30 pm. On Sundays from 1 pm to 4:30 pm.
This fine music instrument museum of the Music City is a must-to-visit place if you’re a hardcore fan of music. The museum houses over some of the most rare and iconic guitars and other stringed instruments.
The GIG is located on the campus of the Belmont University and inside the Lila D. Bunch Library.
Thousands of visitors come to experience and enjoy the story and history of these historically rich instruments. The up-close viewing experience of these stuffs through the tour will surely make this museum visit a memorable one!
The museum charges $7 per adult and youth who are 13 plus. Below that age, there is free admission.
8. Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
Address: 401 Gay St, Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 244-3263
Hours: Monday to Saturday from10 am to 5 pm.
Located in Nashville Municipal Auditorium, and opened on June 6, 2006, the multi-purpose usable Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is a must-to-visit museum in Nashville to get impressed with dozens of exciting attractions.
The premier Nashville attraction receives thousands of visitors per year for being the one and only museum in the world honoring the talented musicians of all time. The best thing about this museum is it allows visitors to play music instruments in the designated interactive areas.
Many historic instruments and memorabilia of the legendary musicians are displayed through various exhibits.
9. The Parthenon
Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 862-8431
Hours: Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm; Friday to Sunday from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Owned and operated by the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation, the Parthenon has been serving since 1930 to locals and visitors alike with its multiple changing art exhibitions. The intent of this Nashville museum is to aware the visitors about how the ancient Greeks impacted on American Civilization.
Located inside the Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, this famous art museum is the only exact size replica of the Original Parthenon of Athens and it serves as a monument of classical architecture. The main exhibition displays the permanent collection of 63 paintings of the prominent American artists of 19th and 20th centuries.
Also, the museum serves temporary shows and exhibits in the designated venue of the gallery spaces providing many additional information of history and societal impacts. To get ultimate fun, participate in the enriching family activities and explore the tours.
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10. Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and Nashville Souvenirs
Address: 2613A McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 885-1515
Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 9 am to 8 pm; Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm.
Located in Music Valley Village, Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and Nashville Souvenirs are truly unique attractions to go and explore. The facilities are in the same building and serve like museum and a souvenir shop.
A walk through the country music history in this museum gives the opportunity to closely observe memorabilia and many personal stuffs used by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton and many other friends of Nelson. The museum houses the world’s one of the largest displays of personal items of Nelson and his many friends.
The souvenir store is the largest one in Nashville and visitors can buy here a variety of gifts, clothing, local foods and more things.
FAQs
1. How many museums are there in Nashville?
There are more than 30 museums visitors can explore and enjoy in Nashville. History museum, art museum, music museum, agricultural museum, science museum— all are present in the Music City.
2. Which Museum is better in Nashville?
Though Nashville is home to many well-known and various types of museums, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the world famous museum located in Nashville. Other famous museums in Nashville are Tennessee State Museum, The Parthenon, Johnny Cash Museum, First Art Museum and many more.
3. What museums in Nashville are free?
Tennessee State Museum, Tennessee Agricultural Museum, Cooter’s Place are some of the best free museums that Nashville has to offer.
4. How much does it cost to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville?
Ticket price varies for different age groups. For children, between 6 to 12 years of age, the price is $19.95, and adults(13+) need to pay $29.95. Though advanced reservation facility is also available.
5. How much does it cost to get into Tennessee State park?
Tennessee State Park is freely open to the public seven days a week and for year-round. Visitors are not charged any fees for touring the museum.
6. Does the Tennessee State Museum have free parking?
Yes, free parking is available. Tennessee State Museum shares its free parking lot with the Farmers’ Market.
