Museums are the cultural hubs of Nashville. Whether you’re looking to learn something new about Music City or plotting a way to spend your Saturday afternoon, here are 18 museums to visit in our city.
Pro tip: Nashville Public Library’s Community Passports collection gives NPL cardholders free admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Passports may be checked out for up to seven days.
Arts + culture
Frist Art Museum, 919 Broadway | Free-$15
Bookmark the museum’s calendar for movie screenings, architecture tours, special family activities (second Sunday of each month), and more.
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens, 1200 Forrest Park Dr. | $13-$29
The second floor of the Historic Mansion and Museum features the museum’s permanent collection and hosts rotating exhibitions throughout the year.
The Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave. | $8-$10
Did you know the Parthenon also doubles as an art museum with rotating exhibitions in the east and west galleries?
Music
National Museum of African American Music, 510 Broadway | $22.95-$26.96
The 56,000-sqft museum is dedicated to “educating, preserving, and celebrating” more than 50 genres of music, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop, across its galleries.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S. | $29.95
Add on Hatch Show Print and RCA Studio B tours for the full experience.
Bonus: Through the Community Counts program, youth from Davidson and surrounding counties are admitted free, and up to two accompanying adults can receive free or discounted admission.
Jefferson Street Sound Museum, 2004 Jefferson St. | $10-$15
See artifacts chronicling the musical history of Nashville’s Jefferson Street, with a tour highlighting Jimi Hendrix, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington’s time in Music City.
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, 401 Gay St. | $17-$30
A museum dedicated to those who strum the guitars, play the keys, and pound the drums —that’s the mission of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, which opened in June 2006.
The Gallery of Iconic Guitars, 1907 Belmont Blvd. | $7
Located inside the Lila D. Bunch Library on Belmont University’s campus, The Gallery of Iconic Guitars showcases rare, legendary instruments like the 1939 Martin D-45 (one of only 91 made between 1933 and 1942) and the 1958 Gibson Les Paul.
Madame Tussauds Celebrity Wax Museum, 515 Opry Mills Dr. | $26
Look out for Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and other celebrity wax figure sightings.
Tennessee treasures
Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. | Free
In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the state history museum also hosts temporary exhibits and special events throughout the year — a reason to visit often and bookmark the museum’s calendar.
Tennessee Agricultural Museum, 404 Hogan Rd. | Free
There are over 3,000 artifacts throughout two levels of exhibits, as well as an heirloom garden and historic cabins.
Science
Adventure Science Center, 800 Fort Negley Blvd. | $18-$22
Enjoy a planetarium or laser show after a full day of exploring the science museum.
Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History, 816 Old Salem Rd., Murfreesboro | $8-$10
You can’t miss the 38-ft-long Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.
Discovery Center, 502 SE Broad St., Murfreesboro | $12
Embark on a STEM-filled adventure with hands-on activities that engage all five senses.
History
Lane Motor Museum, 702 Murfreesboro Pk. | $3-$15
Don’t miss: $10 vault tours on weekends give a glimpse of off-display cars stored below the museum.
Tennessee Central Railway Museum, 220 Willow St. | Free
The Tennessee Central Railway Museum offers themed train rides on select Saturdays. While it currently doesn’t have regular weekday hours, the hobby shop is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those interested in model trains, accessories, and supplies.
Johnny Cash Museum, 119 3rd Ave. S. | $22-$26
The downtown museum features the world’s largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia.
Patsy Cline Museum, 119 3rd Ave. S. (second floor) | $18-$22
Walk through replicas of some of Cline’s most beloved places, like Gaunt’s Drug Store, where she worked in the soda fountain area as a teenager.
