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Nashville, Tennessee is the epicenter of country music. And you can’t visit this musical city without visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame! Find out how to get the most out of your trip to the museum that celebrates the music and artists that have made this city what it is today.
What to expect from the Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the most iconic attractions in all of Nashville. It celebrates the history of the music and showcases the amazing artists that have had an impact on the genre.
This museum takes up the entire top two floors of the building that houses it. You will start on the 3rd floor and then make your way down to the 2nd floor. On the first floor, you will find the gift shop, the ticket counter, the information desk, a couple of restaurants, and the Hatch Show Print Shop.
The second and third floors have all the the exhibits and collections. These include tons of gold records, lots of outfits, a few cars, musical instruments, and much, much more.
Some of the highlights include dresses worn by Patsy Cline and Reba McIntire, a car owned by Elvis Presley, and Clint Black’s cowboy hat. You will also find the car from Smokie and the Bandit!
Additionally, there is a great exhibit about the “rodeo tailors” that made all of the unique costumes worn by major country music artists back in the day!
If you are a fan of country music, you have to tour this museum! Walking past these exhibits is like stepping back in time.
My husband, who is a huge music fan, loved this place! He could have spend half the day in here. Generally speaking, you should plan to spend about two hours exploring the museum.
The Logistics of Visiting
The Country Music Hall of Fame is located at 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, in the heart of downtown Nashville. Find it just one block over from all the restaurants, bars, and honkytonks of Broadway.
The museum is open from 9 am until 5 pm daily. They are open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. They also close for their Medallion ceremony, which is usually on the third Sunday of October.
The museum sells timed-entry tickets. This spreads out the crowds on busy days. Plan to arrive approximately 15 minutes before the time on your tickets.
Admission is $27.95 for adults and kids age 13 and older. Children age 6-12 can get in for $17.95. Kids under 6 are free.
Additionally, you can get combination tickets, which will grant you access to the museum, as well as either the historic Studio B tour and/or the Hatch Show Print tour. These combo tickets gives you a little bit of a discount.
Bonus: Don’t Miss the Country Music Walk of Fame!
Across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame is the Country Music Walk of Fame. Think the Hollywood Walk of Fame for country music stars.
It is located in a park across the street from the main entrance to the museum.
This is a fun little addition that you can fully enjoy in less than a hour. It is so fun to walk through and see all the people who have squares on the walk of fame. You will also enjoy taking photos with your favorite artists’ squares.
Tips for Visiting
Tip #1: Combine your tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame with a Hatch Show Print tour.
The Hatch Show Print tour was one of my favorite things to do in Nashville. It was amazing! And it’s a great compliment to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Tip #2: Take a little time to explore the Country Music Walk of Fame.
The Country Music Walk of Fame is a natural extension of the museum. And it’s small, so it won’t take a ton of time. So, it only makes sense that you explore this area either before or after your tour of the museum.
Tip #3: Buy your tickets online in advance.
Because of the timed entries, it is best to buy your tickets online in advance. This will also save you time on the day of your arrival. You can buy tickets on the Country Music Hall of Fame website.
Tip #4: Arrive early in the day to avoid the crowds.
While entry into the museum is timed, you are allowed to stay as long as you would like. This means that the later in the day you arrive, the more crowded the museum will be. So, to enjoy the museum without a lot of people around, pick the earliest time of the day possible.
Tip #5: Check out all the gold records on the stairs between the second and third floors.
After exploring the third floor, take the stairs down to the second floor if you can. On the way down, be sure to check out all the gold records on display.
Tip #6: Don’t miss the Hall of Fame Rotunda.
The actual hall of fame induction plaques are located in the Hall of Fame Rotunda on the second floor. It is easy to miss this room because it is set apart from the rest of the museum just a bit. But, it is cool to see these. So, be sure you don’t miss this room on your tour.
Conclusion
The Country Music Hall of Fame is an iconic attraction in Nashville, Tennessee. You can’t get the full Music City experience without a tour of it. I hope these tips help you get the most out of your trip.
For more things to do in Nashville for your family, see my posts on the Parthenon and the Nashville Zoo.
Happy travels!
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