Find Hotels Near National Museum of African American Music Nashville

The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville is a unique and culturally significant institution that celebrates the rich history and vibrant culture of African-American music. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, this museum allows visitors to explore the many musical styles that arose from African-American musical traditions, as well as gain an appreciation for their meaningful impact on today’s musical landscape. With permanent and rotating exhibits, education programs, interactive activities, and lectures, this museum offers something for every kind of visitor.

The museum focuses on five foundational genres: gospel music, blues, jazz, hip-hop/R&B/rap and soul. At the museum's core is a thorough exploration of each genre—from their beginnings to their current incarnations—through artifacts such as instruments, recordings, photographs, costumes and film clips. Visitors can also view more than 40 video stories featuring conversations with influential artists about their musical lives. Additionally, visitors can peruse temporary exhibitions that feature topics such as Black Women in Song or Follow That Beat: The Evolution of African American Dance Music.

In addition to its physical exhibits and displays focusing on iconic artists within each genre from throughout history—such as Aretha Franklin or Louis Armstrong—the National Museum of African American Music also provides educational resources for those interested in learning more about the history behind these genres. These resources include lectures by prominent guest speakers or scholars followed by question-and-answer sessions; guided tours of the museum; symposiums; concerts; workshops; master classes; podcasts; summer camps with virtual components; research library material archives; curriculum kits available for K–12 educators; summer internships; and field trips.

The National Museum of African American Music strives to be a place where both adults and children can learn about our nation’s past while engaging with some of today’s most important music creators. It is an invaluable resource that honors everything from sacred gospel choir hymns to revolutionary rap lyrics – all with one goal in mind: to help us understand how far the influence of African American music culture has come throughout generations around the world.