Museums,  Tennessee

The Best Museums in Nashville, Tennessee

February 12, 2020 / 27 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you buy through my site. I appreciate your support of my site.

There is a lot more to Nashville, Tennessee than the honky tonks on Broadway. You can get your cultural fill in Nashville too. Fantastic museums can be found all around the city. No matter what your interests are, there is a museum in Nashville for you! In this post I break down the best museums in Nashville based on what type of museum you are looking for.

I wrote a visiting information section for every museum to make sure you have all the details you need to enjoy each museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Within this section you will see the recommended amount of time to spend at each museum. This is based on how much time I spent. In general I find I spend a little more time than other people. Also all the museums below have free restrooms.

For the History Buff:

The Tennessee State Museum  

Museums in Nashville you need to visit

Whether you love history museums or not the State Museum of Tennessee is the best Nashville museum to get an overview on Tennessee. It is the perfect museum to visit first as it gives a good summary on many different topics. You can go to one of the other museums listed below to get a more in-depth understanding about whatever interests you the most.

The museum reminded me a lot of the Michigan State Museum. Similar to the Michigan museum this museum’s exhibits take you from the origins of the state to present day. If you’ve been to other USA state museums the topics covered will seem very familiar, especially the first sections on natural history and the original inhabitants of TN.

Of course the country’s history is told through the lens of the people and events of TN. War exhibits are not usually my favorites, but I really liked learning about the civil war from the south’s perspective. Both the south and north wanted TN on their side. To put it lightly there was a lot of tension and conflicts within the state. Learning about how this affected the cities of the state was interesting.

In addition to the permanent exhibits there are a couple of temporary ones. An exhibit on TN food was on display when I visited. Being the foodie I am I loved learning about how the staple foods of the state came to be. I picked up a lot of restaurant recommendations and the urge to return to TN for all the food festivals throughout the year.

Where: 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN

Neighborhood: Downtown

Tickets: Free!

Time Needed: I spent about four hours at the museum and could have spent more.

Food: No food at the museum, but you can eat at the Nashville Farmer’s market right next door to the museum.

What to Do Nearby: Walk through Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park outside of the museum. Take a free tour at the nearby TN State Capitol.

Other Similar Museums: Military Branch Museum (a part of the TN State Museum)

 

For the Presidential Enthusiast:

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage 

The best museums in Nashville TN

The State Museum of Tennessee has some information on Andrew Jackson. But to really understand the life of Jackson and see where he lived, you need to visit the Hermitage. The Hermitage is Andrew Jackson’s former home and grounds. His mansion and grounds are restored to replicate what they looked like during his time. In addition to the original buildings, there is a museum which gives an overview of his life. He lived a really interesting life, starting as an orphan at 14 years old and ending with being the President of the USA. The museum provides many intriguing details about his life, marriage and opinions.

The tour of Jackson’s mansion is led by costumed docents. You can explore the rest of the 1,120 acres of the Hermitage on your own. Sign posts about the information can be found around the grounds. You can also listen to the audio guide. I love learning about how people from different places and eras lived. There is a good deal of information about the slaves that Jackson owned within the buildings they are believed to have resided in on the grounds.

The museum does a good job in presenting a well-rounded view of Andrew Jackson. They show him both as a man who advocated for the average citizen and democracy, while also taking away the rights of African Americans and Native Americans. His house and land was run by many slaves and he was an active leader in pushing the Native Americans off their land.

Where: 4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage, TN

Neighborhood: 15 miles east of Downtown

Tickets: Adults $22. You can visit the museum for free using one of your attractions with the Music City Total Access Pass or with the Nashville Sightseeing Pass.

Time Needed: I spent about 3.5 hours, including eating lunch and had the right amount of time.

Food: The Kitchen Cabinet cafe offers lunch fare including salads, soups, sandwiches and quiches.

What to Do Nearby: Visiting the Grand Ole Opry & Opryland hotel in the same day make sense because they are both located outside of the downtown area.

Other Similar Museums: Belmont Mansion, Historic Travellers Rest Plantation & House Museum

 

For the Sports Fanatic:

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 

Museums in Nashville

The TN Sports Hall of Fame is a museum that showcases the history of many different sports and athletes within the state. The museum covers a wide variety of sports from football to swimming. It also highlights teams and players from both collegiate and professional levels. I really liked that women’s teams and individuals were also included. There was a section on Pat Summitt, a very successful basketball player, olympian and coach.

Where: 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN

Neighborhood: Downtown

Tickets: Adults $3. The museum is included for free with the Music City Total Access Pass.

Time Needed: I spent about 45 minutes at the museum and had plenty of time.

Food: No food at the museum, but many restaurants nearby. You can have a classic meat & three meal at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, which is only five minutes away on foot.

What to Do Nearby: The museum is in the heart of downtown so you can visit the Honky Tonks on Broadway, take a Nashville tour or explore more Nashville museums.

 

For the Country Music Fan:

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Nashville Museums
Kacey Musgrave’s Exhibit

You’re in Nashville to listen and learn about country music right? The main ongoing exhibit in the museum uses instruments, clothing, videos, audio, written information and other artifacts to show you the evolution of country music from the early folk roots to today. I enjoyed the short film that gives a quick history of country music.

There are usually about six additional temporary exhibits. The exhibits on individual singers or bands were my favorite. Kacey Musgraves is one of my favorite singers. It was interesting to learn about how she became the popular singer she is today.

Throughout the museum you can participate in a few different interactive games, like creating a country outfit or song. It’s a fun way to break up all the reading and information overload.

Where: 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 

Neighborhood: Downtown

Tickets: Adults $25.95. You can visit the museum for free using one of your attractions with the Music City Total Access Pass or with the Nashville Sightseeing Pass.

Time Needed: I spent about 2.5 hours at the museum and needed more time.

Food: There is a small cafe in the lobby of the museum.

What to Do Nearby: The Hatch Show Print is located in the same building. Take a tour to learn about this famous letterpress poster shop.

Other Similar Museums: Musicians Hall of Fame

 

For the George Jones Fan:

The George Jones Museum

Nashville country singer museums

As I said above I am a big country fan, but I couldn’t have told you a single thing about George Jones before visiting this museum in Nashville. Of course you will want to visit the museum if you are a big fan of the legendary singer. Even if you aren’t, it’s a nice change from the country hall of fame and museum. Instead of focusing on country in general and learning a little about a lot of different people, you get to learn a lot about one person.

The exhibits go in chronological order from George’s childhood to his final years. I’m always fascinated in the little details and facts about a person’s life. This museum does a good job of describing the famous singer and giving interesting tidbits about his personal life and career.

Where: 128 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN

Neighborhood: Downtown

Tickets: Adults $17. The museum is included for free if you buy a ticket to the hop-on-hop-off trolley tour.

Time Needed: I spent about an hour at the museum and had plenty of time.

Food: The George Jones Restaurant is on the first floor of the museum. Martin’s BBQ Joint, about a 12 minutes walk away, is a great place to have some southern BBQ downtown.

What to Do Nearby: The museum’s central location downtown allows convenient access to the Honky Tonks on Broadway, the starting point of many Nashville tours and other Nashville museums.

Other Similar Museums: Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum

 

For the Art Aficionado:

The Parthenon

Nashville Art Museums

Did you know you don’t have to book an overseas flight to see the Parthenon? Transport yourself to Greece right here in Nashville, TN. For the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition the city made a full-scale replica of the Parthenon. The structure was not intended to be permanent, but the people of Nashville loved it so much that they wanted it to remain. In 1920 it was rebuilt to look exactly as it did during the exposition, but with more long-lasting materials.

Since the exposition in 1897 the Parthenon has housed fine arts. Today it is still one of Nashville’s best art museums. It’s a smaller museum with mostly paintings and sculptures. The main feature of the museum is the modern Athena sculpture. At 41 feet and 10 inches tall she is a monstrosity. You can’t miss her!

Although it is an art museum, I thought the introductory exhibit on the building and the TN Centennial Exposition was the most interesting.

Where: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN

Neighborhood: Within Centennial Park

Tickets: Adults $6. The museum is included for free with the Music City Total Access Pass.

Time Needed: I spent about 45 minutes at the museum and had plenty of time.

Food: There is no food for sale in the museum. Take the hop-on hop-off trolley tour from outside the museum to stop 11 for Hatti B’s Hot Chicken.

What to Do Nearby: Walk around Centennial Park.

Other Similar Museums: Frist Art Museum

 

For the Concert Goer:

Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour

What to do in nashville

Okay the Grand Ole Opry Backstage tour isn’t a museum, but a museum is a place that shows a collection of something and holds a cultural significance. It is also a place where you learn. All three of these things are true for the Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour. As the title says the tour takes you behind the scenes of the Grand Ole Opry. You will be able to walk in the recording studio, see where the artists enter the Opry, step on the stage and take a peek in all the dressing rooms.

As you know by now I am a huge country fan so I appreciated learning about all the little facts about the musicians and the process of singing at the Opry. It was really neat to see the video clips of stars finally getting to sing at the Opry and being asked if they would like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Seeing the names of all the members up close was cool. Also I was surprised to find out that many country artists have mail boxes at the Opry. Anyone can send them a letter addressed to their name and the Grand Ole Opry address and it will be put in their mailbox. Each artist needs to personally pick up their mail themselves. If you are trying to get in touch with your favorite country music star, give it a try!

Where:2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN

Neighborhood: 12 miles northeast of Downtown

Tickets: Adults $34. You can take the tour for free using one of your attractions with the Music City Total Access Pass.

Time Needed: ~45 minute tour

Food: No food at the Grand Ole Opry, but you can eat at the nearby Opryland Hotel.

What to Do Nearby: From the Grand Ole Opry walk to the Opryland Hotel and wander around through the various atriums. Take a General Jackson Showboat cruise.

Other Similar Museums: Tour the Ryman Auditorium (home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974)

Whether you are interested in history, sports, music or art these are the best Nashville museums. Let me know in the comments below which museum you would like to visit first! 

More Posts About the South

Pin IT!!


You May Also Like

Our Ventures in Vienna

June 2, 2018

Unique Things to Do in Santa Fe

November 26, 2023

The Most Popular and Unique Things to Do in Austin

March 12, 2024

27 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *