Nashville carries a reputation built on honky-tonks, hot chicken, and the constant hum of live music spilling onto Broadway. Yet, beneath the neon lights and the strum of acoustic guitars lies a city with a deep, textured history that extends far beyond the recording studio. From the literal foundations of ancient Greece to the hallowed halls of country music royalty, the city offers a surprisingly diverse cultural landscape waiting to be explored.
For locals and visitors alike, the city’s museums offer a welcome respite from the weather and the crowds, providing climate-controlled environments where stories are told through artifacts, art, and architecture. Whether you are a history buff seeking to understand the "Athens of the South" or an art lover looking for modern Southern expression, Nashville has a curated space for you. The challenge is rarely finding a museum, but rather deciding which one fits your specific interest and itinerary.
This guide cuts through the noise to present the definitive list of the best institutions the city has to offer. We have evaluated these destinations not just on the size of their collections, but on the quality of the visitor experience, the uniqueness of their exhibits, and their ability to connect with the human spirit. You will find a mix of world-renowned halls of fame and intimate historic homes that preserve the soul of Tennessee.
Understanding the layout of Nashville is key to maximizing your time. While many attractions cluster downtown near the central business district, others are nestled in the leafy neighborhoods of Midtown or require a short drive to the outskirts of the city. We have organized these recommendations to help you plan a logical route, ensuring you spend less time in traffic and more time immersed in the exhibits.
Before we dive into the specific locations, it is worth noting that Nashville’s museum scene is constantly evolving. New wings are added, traveling exhibits rotate, and historic properties undergo meticulous restorations. The establishments listed below have proven their staying power and consistently deliver educational, engaging, and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages.
Below is a curated selection of the essential cultural landmarks that define the visual and historical narrative of Nashville.
Tennessee State Museum
| Address | 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 741-2692 |
What a beautiful museum! The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. The museum was free and expansive, covering a variety of topics and the timeline of TN history. I recommend wearing good shoes and planning to spend a couple hours here.
They had a great children's area with lots of things to do. This museum is within walking distance to the capitol building, and there was a good amount of free parking.
Was humbled here by my then 8 year old, I wasn't born during the depression but apparently she thought I was! 😒😂
Beautifully curated museum I recommend often! I tell people daily how my daughter enjoyed it as well. If you can get an 8 year old to enjoy a historical museum, you've done something right.
Free museum with a kids gallery, section dedicated to our musical history and it ends where your child can ask you why cell phones were so big and what's attached to the back of TVs we had in the 90s. Karma is what my mom would call it if she could!
Remember seeing this Ernest Tubbs sign as a kid. Love from Love (OTT)! 🖤🖤
There is honestly almost too much to see here, all for there great price of FREE. The whole family had a great time, from age 5 to 75. There is a children's gallery with interactive play, which was a hit with all the kiddos. The main galleries are upstairs, including permanent and specialty exhibits. The Tunnel of Time was really cool, and there are short videos to introduce every major time period, from pre-historic to the present. One thing we especially found really awesome was a gallery of needlework samplers and quilts from the mid-19th century. Everything was so well preserved that the beautiful, tiny stitches were still legible and neat. The interactive exhibit featuring the Tennessee music scene was also great. There were a couple of galleries toward the end that we weren't able to see, since little feet were tired, but I am positive they were just as good. They do have a 2 p.m. guided highlights tour to acquaint you with, well, the highlights. Highly recommended for all ages, but there may be too much walking for small children or those with mobility issues. Parking is a whole other thing - it's very limited and located between the museum and a farmer's market, which I would also highly recommend.
This place exceeded my expectation. I didn’t have much expectation before arrived thinking it’s just another state museum that probably doesn’t have much. They actually do! They organize the different periods very well and they have quite a lot of interesting artifacts to see. The size of the museum is also perfect. It’s not too big and so I didn’t feel overwhelm walking through neither did I need to rush. I spent like 1.5 hours there. Most important thing is it’s free. If you like museum, I think this place worths a visit
This museum is very well maintained and has great exhibits; from pre-historic times which my kids really enjoyed to many interactive battle displays. We also loved the Tennessee Playlist exhibit. The little kids area is also very fun!
In addition, it has parking and it’s across from all the Farmers Market. It was the perfect FREE family Saturday activity for a cold day!
The Parthenon
| Address | 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Sunday: 12:30 – 4:30 PM |
| Phone | (615) 862-8431 |
Beautiful, inside and out. The museum is fascinating itself but we like coming and just walking around the outside of it, looking at the lawn and the city behind it. It’s such an awesome feature of our city, it’s good to go here and appreciate it a few times per year. Weekends are obviously busier than weekdays but it’s never super overcrowded in my experience unless there’s a festival or something.
The Parthenon in Nashville is still worth visiting even if the inside is temporarily closed. I only visited the outside of the building, but it was still impressive and valuable to see. The scale, columns, and classical design make it feel special, and it is a great place for photos, walking, and enjoying Centennial Park.
Pros: beautiful architecture, great photo spot, peaceful park setting, and meaningful even from outside.
Cons: if the building is closed, you miss the indoor exhibits and statue, so the visit becomes shorter.
Tip: Check the opening hours before going, but even if it is closed, walking around the outside is still a good experience.
Great place to just walk around and see the diversity of the area. During a week visit I walked here for an hour or two each night and was never bothered by anyone. Plenty of people walking dogs, eating meals, playing sports, and just hanging out with one another. More cities need parks like this. Big, open, flat spaces where people can be with one another.
The Parthenon is a small museum but worth it for the price. Tickets are $15 but they offer a student discount. The entire museum is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator that takes you to the second floor where the statue is. The park is very walkable, but be warned there is a disgusting amount of dog poop along the paths. The paths directly outside of the Parthenon seem to have avoided this fate.
This was a really cool stop. The building is way bigger than I anticipated it to be. There’s is self guided tour with audio available via QR code on the sidewalk near the corner of the front of the building which is filled with all kinds of interesting facts about the recreated Parthenon architecture. The park around it is huge and there is some additional things to see like a women’s suffrage monument and some tree art. Inside is a museum if you want to go in and there is plenty of parking.
Adventure Science Center
| Address | 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 862-5160 |
We enjoyed the museum and learned a lot. Three levels makes the place extra special. The museum could use a refresh of it's exhibits, but the overall visit was enjoyed by children. Next time we'll take in a movie the the planetarium.
We had so much fun here today! Three levels, tons to do and see! Worth the money for admission.
*If you have WIC or food stamps, you can get discounted admission 🎟️*
My daughter loved the slides, dinosaurs, the Solar System displays and all of the interactive things to do. Staff were helpful and incredible. 10/10
We cannot wait to go back.
Very cool experience with the kiddos during this hot Summer day. Was a little pricey, but there were a lot of activities for the kids, which is what we love most. The planetarium was awesome! If we were locals we would recommend getting a membership to go frequently and save some money. It would be a go-to for us!
I went to the Adventure Science Center for an after-hours event a few days ago and absolutely loved it! The Adventure Science Center and the event that they hosted completely exceeded my expectations. It was so fun to walk around, and I loved the different ways the exhibits are so interactive and engaging. So much fun! I especially loved the laser show at the planetarium! It was my favorite part of the night. I highly recommend Adventure Science Center, and I can’t wait to visit again soon!
LOVED IT! Haven't Been Since i Was a Kid And Wanted To Get The FULL EXPERIENCE. i Went For My Birthday And My GF Paid For Both Of Us. My Favorite Part Of The Whole Thing Was The Planetarium!! It Was AWESOME !!! Would Definitely Be Going Back Soon. Would Love If They Did An Upgrade But Overall It Was Fine And FUN
National Museum of African American Music
| Address | 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 301-8724 |
Amazing experience with my husband! Learned new things about black people. We made an anniversary beat and that was cool. We really enjoyed the headphones idea.
I'll be honest and say their should be wipes at the stations for those that want to limit germs like myself. (I had my own lol)
The exhibitions were really nice. The way the music was categorized was well thought out and a real vibe. We would go again just because it was niccce!
The National Museum of African American Music was easily one of the highlights of my trip to Nashville.
From the moment I walked in, I was immersed in the rich history and cultural impact of Black music. The exhibits are incredibly interactive … one minute I was learning about the origins and evolution of different genres, and the next I was in the choir booth singing like I had a recording contract waiting on me. 🤣
What makes this museum so special is that it doesn’t just showcase music … it tells the story of how African American artists shaped the soundtrack of America. From gospel and blues to jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and beyond, every gallery highlights the creativity, resilience, innovation, and influence that Black music has had across generations.
I especially loved the interactive wristband experience, which allowed me to engage with exhibits throughout the museum and build a personalized playlist to access later. Such a unique and thoughtful touch!
Whether you’re a music lover, history enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates culture, this museum is a must-visit. You leave with a deeper understanding of the music we enjoy every day and the legacy behind it.
If you’re in Nashville, put NMAAM on your list. Trust me … your favorite playlist would not exist without the stories told within these walls.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The National Museum of African American Music is an incredible experience and a must-visit while in Nashville! The exhibits are interactive, engaging, and beautifully showcase the rich history and influence of African American music across every genre. I loved how immersive the experience was and left with a greater appreciation for the artists and their impact on music.
My only suggestion would be to provide a clearer explanation of how the interactive wristband works. It wasn’t immediately obvious where to scan it, what information it saves, how long it takes to receive your personalized playlist, or how to access and listen to it after your visit.
Overall, it was an outstanding museum experience, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting Nashville!
We visited as a large group for our family reunion. I highly recommend it for reunions. There's so much to see. You could really spend hours in there. I'll try to go again one day. I was busy taking pictures, but didn't take the necessary time to see all the museum has to offer. I have to give it 4 stars and not 5 because we paid the extra $5 for the interactive wrist bands, but so many of the exhibits were not working and allowing you to scan the wristbands.
This small museum, perfectly situated amongst several hotels in downtown Nashville, TN packs a powerful punch. A very cool experience! It is within walking distance of several hotels. There were interesting special events onsite Thursday through Saturday that brought the community together for joyful celebrations of music, food, African American vendors, and culture. Your museum experience began in a quaint theater with an inspirational film. From there you moved to exhibits that were highly interactive, nostalgic, and enlightening. There was an option to obtain an interactive bracelet that allowed you to save songs that you recorded and mix your own beats. There were playlists to listen to with the option to create and save your own playlist. There was so much to see that it definitely deserves another visit, or two. Children and adults alike will enjoy this experience. My only complaint was no mention of the very soulful singer/songwriter, Donny Hathaway at all in the museum. A huge oversight in my opinion.
Frist Art Museum
| Address | 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM Sunday: 1:00 – 5:30 PM |
| Phone | (615) 244-3340 |
As an art lover, this place definitely did not disappoint! While it’s not the largest museum I’ve ever visited, the collection is fantastic and the staff made the experience even better. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and truly enthusiastic about sharing insights on the exhibits. The colorful string installation right at the entrance was stunning, and I really enjoyed the modern abstract pieces. Well worth a visit!
I enjoyed my wander through the building and the art! Happened upon the Surrealist Art exhibit docent tour, saw THE Picasso and walked through the family + interactive area. The reclaimed building is beautifully detailed and still an active Post Office. A really nice hour + art absorption experience! Walkable from the Broadway and Convention Center strips.
We have been very fortunate to have enjoyed the Frist for many years as members. Amazing curators provide a wide range of regional, national, and internationally recognized programming and exhibits. We love the knowledgable docents, great rotating activities at ArtQuest upstairs, and the addition of the Grilled Cheeserie—all in a beautifully preserved historic building. Now if they can just figure out parking - the clunky system in use creates quite a bottleneck on busy days.
A wonderful regional museum with an incredible architecture art deco former post office to how is it. Why they don't have a permanent collection they have regularly rotating shows that we drive in from Knoxville to see often. When you are in Nashville this museum is well worth a visit.
We went to the Impressionists exhibit on loan from a Texas gallery. It was excellent and a once in my life opportunity to see works by masters. Go see it! You will not be disappointed. The Frist staff is wonderful too. Polite, helpful and so knowledgeable about art. I will.probably go again.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
| Address | 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203 |
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| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 416-2001 |
Spending a full day at the Country Music Hall of Fame was an unforgettable experience. It’s an incredible tribute to the history and legends of country music, spanning multiple floors filled with rich history, iconic instruments, and immersive exhibits. The guitar wall display was a major highlight! The staff were wonderfully friendly and helpful throughout the museum. Plus, the full gift shop has something for everyone—perfect for picking up gifts for friends and family back home. A must-visit when in Nashville!
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was one of our favorite stops in Nashville!
We expected to spend a couple of hours there, but easily could have stayed all day. Every exhibit was beautifully done, and there was something for everyone.
My girls had the best time. One of my favorite memories was watching them sing in the Taylor Swift Education Center's recording studio and create songs at the songwriting station. It was so interactive and such a fun experience for kids.
The Dolly Parton exhibit was incredible, and seeing Elvis's gold Cadillac, the walls of gold records, and so many legendary pieces of country music history was amazing. I especially loved learning more about Dolly's Imagination Library (our youngest kids have benefited immensely from it) and the impact she's had beyond music.
The biggest surprise? Even my teenage metalhead daughter had an absolute blast! That says a lot about how engaging this museum is.
Whether you're a lifelong country music fan or just visiting Nashville, don't skip this place. It was worth every penny and created memories our family will never forget.
If you are a music aficionado at all, regardless of what genre, this is a must visit at some point. The museum is located downtown and is absolutely amazing. So much history can be found through the different exhibits and how much influence Country Music has had on the development of different sounds and genres. The timelines that you follow show the evolution of Country from the earliest days until the present. Each exhibition is thoughtfully curated and the items and artifacts on display are amazing. As an additional excursion, the Hatch Show Print is a wonderful example of how advertising was (and still is) done to drum up interest for shows. The Hall also has revolving exhibitions that highlight artists and continue to makd the experience fresh and engaging. Highly recommended if you are Nashville!
Wear good shoes! Cool history of country. Except to be here about 2 hours to walk and read. You can buy tickets there. Waiting for the elevator, they control, is a few minutes. Not many seat benches, so if you need a break often, good luck. They have little movie shows that have seats, so you have a few options, but not many. My back hurt at the end of the tour!
visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum today and honestly had a great experience. The museum is very well organized and packed with amazing history about country music, from the classic legends to today’s biggest artists. Even if you’re not a huge country music fan, it’s still 100% worth visiting because the exhibits, instruments, outfits, cars, and original memorabilia are incredible.
I really liked how they show the evolution of country music and Nashville’s culture throughout the years. You can easily spend a few hours there without getting bored. The building itself is beautiful and very well maintained too.
The only thing is that there’s so much to see, so I definitely recommend going with enough time to enjoy everything properly. Overall, it’s a must-visit spot if you’re in Nashville!
Johnny Cash Museum
| Address | Lower Level, 119 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 256-1777 |
I grew up listening to Johhny Cash and this place was such a heartwarming place to visit. Pictures can't tell the story enough and I don't know what words to type to express my joy at being able to visit this museum. I will always remember my visit. Go here, you won't regret it
Just amazing!
Can't say anything more.
The ending made me cry.. when he sang Hurt, I couldn't hold it. What a man. A true legend. And the tribute and respect he paid for his late wife June Carter.. was just beautiful 🥹🥹🥹❤️
Once in a lifetime experience. A must see in Nashville! All the information you'd ever want about Johnny Cash's whole life.
Disabled accessible. Plenty of room to move around. Staff are the kindest, friendly people.
This restaurant was great!! It's called House of Cards and it's under the Johnnie Cash Museum. They have a fun piano without a person playing it and you can go up to it and request a song. Also, they have magic tricks during and after dinner and they were really good! It's an upscale place with a lux atmosphere and they do enforce the dress code. Someone proposed at the table next to us. It was a really fun night.
We really enjoyed the Johnny Cash Museum. It offered excellent history and really well-done displays that made his story come alive. It wasn’t too crowded, which made it easy to take everything in at our own pace. The gift shop also had a lot of great items. Overall, a great experience for anyone who loves music history.
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
| Address | 401 Gay St, Nashville, TN 37219 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: Closed |
| Phone | (615) 244-3263 |
Great music requires actual talent. Not just a cool pop star or distinct voice. Behind every talent we recognize in the music industry is a team of real artists. This museum is to honor them. The tickets are a little pricey but the museum is a lot of fun for the whole family and offers interactive experiences you really have to see to appreciate.
Had a great time with my son. He loved all the interactive parts of the museum. Lots of great displays and fun to spend a couple hours touring it all. Reasonably priced and would recommend if you love music.
An awesome experience if you Like music! I went with my mother and we both had an awesome time and I felt like I could be there for hours! There is a spot for playing the instruments which is nice for people that play instruments like guitar drums and bass guitar. They also have quite a lot of musicians than you’d probably expect too! I would highly recommend coming to this fantastic museum.
Being a bit of a music buff, this was such a fun museum! The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. The collection of memorabilia they have collected is impressive and the interactive part of the museum is so fun. Well worth a visit!
Great museum for any age. Plan on spending 2–3 hours to see everything. I especially enjoyed the exhibits featuring Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. The interactive area where you can play instruments was a lot of fun. A bit pricey, but definitely worth a visit.
Cooter's Nashville
| Address | 2613B McGavock Pk, Nashville, TN 37214 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 872-8358 |
Will always love this place. First time visiting it last week and the history and nostalgia was amazing. Store clerks were very pleasant and helpful. The museum was awesome too. I hope this stay around for many more years to come.
4/06/26- The first thing I did when I landed in Nashville was stop by at Cooter's. This is my favorite museum and the best part it's FREE!
You'll be immediately greeted by the owner who's there daily. He welcomes anyone who walks in.
The minute you walk in you'll be mesmerized by a huge selection of souvenirs from stickers, pencils, shirts, shot glasses, hats and many other items.
To your left you'll see the bedroom every kid wished he had growing up.
I've gotten to know the owner because if I'm not there reminiscing I'm bringing a coworker. No one is disappointed.
If you're an old timer like I am (63) this will bring back JH memories. It does for me. It was my Friday night show.
There's a couch in the back where you can sit down and watch an original show in a room surrounded with pictures of the actors.
If you had a childhood crush or you love Daisy in her shorts you can't miss them as they hang up at eye level. They have her jeep with a nice background from the show.
The loveable Boss Hogg is in a cardboard life size cut out. He's got his own section along with his dog Flash.
You'll see toys, cards, magazines and anything you can think of in display cases throughout the building.
They bring in various actors to sign memorabilia and autograph pictures. I was able to see Catherine Bach, but I didn't stand in the line. Maybe next time. She was cute just older but she was friendly with all her fans.
Stop by and enjoy. Get all The Dukes of Hazzard souvenirs here because you won't find them anywhere else. This was my one stop shop. Enjoy the pictures 📸
If you grew up in the 80's, you remember having fun watching "The Dukes of Hazzard". AND, if you loved that show, you will love this SHRINE to the show!!
There is a LOT of memoribilia and souvenirs (way more than you think looking at the outside of building as the building is very deep).
They even have actual episodes of the hit show running on a big screen TV you can watch. What I thought would be a 5 minute stop lasted 30+ minutes.
You can even take a pic with the General Lee in the parking lot. Great fun and worth the time for sure!!
Cooter's is impressive celebration of all things Dukes of Hazzard. The Museum is free and features cars from the show displays of artifacts and merchandise from across the decades. There is also (of course) a gift shop where you can purchase anything from a hat to a dicecast car. If you are or ever were a fan of Dukes of Hazzard this place is definitely worth checking out.
If your looking for a neat little place to walk around and see some cool pieces of Nashville's musical history then this a a great little hidden gem. Small admission fee but we feel like it was worth it. Once you see Hank's truck you will probably agree!
Lane Motor Museum
| Address | 702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 742-7445 |
Great collection of unique and rare vehicles from around the world. The vault tour was especially impressive. It included the Monopoly car from the television commercials and a 1985 Shell gas-mileage competition car that finished 13th. The museum also has a fun exhibit featuring cars from popular video games like Gran Turismo, Forza, and Need for Speed, paired with gameplay footage. You can easily spend a couple of hours here. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Nashville.
Really great museum. Highly recommend the vault tour. Many of their most interesting cars are actually down there.
They focus on quirky or unique cars, not much on popular or famous cars, though they have a few and many that they have are down in the vault where you can't really see them.
Wish they had a few more commonly known 'classic cars'.
It would be nice if they could convert the currencies in the sign to 2025 dollars or something. It's not really helpful to say the car originally sold for 30,000 Francs in 1952. Is that a lot? Would be nice to say that's equal to $1,500 today.
What a great place! We were looking for something to do with the 5yo grand and this was on the list of things he got to choose from. We all loved it and had a great time. The cars are unusual enough to keep the kids entertained. These aren't American muscle cars. This is a fabulous collection of European cars, one of a kind prototypes, and more. Definitely recommend!
Such a unique museum. With so many automobiles from so many locations. Definitely worth the visit. We took our 5 year old grandson and he absolutely loved it.
I had such a fun time visiting this museum.. We took the basement tour, and that was very much worth the extra $10 per person.. Seeing all the cool vintage, one of a kind, and concept cars from around the world, was so interesting and fun! I will definitely be coming back in the future to bring friends so they can also experience it.
Madame Tussauds Nashville
| Address | Opry Mills, 515 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville, TN 37214 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Phone | (615) 485-4867 |
Me and my friends were visiting Nashville and love to go to a wax museum at every place we visit. So we’ve been to a bit now. And this place was really nice. We really enjoyed the layout and all of the music and vibes of the place. It also smelled incredibly good. Every section had its own like scent and it was super nice. We probably took about 40 minutes to get through? But we love to take funny pictures with all of the people that we know. We don’t really read any of the info plaques either. The wax figures looked really really good too. There were props to take pictures with in most of the areas as well. I know a lot of reviews say it’s not worth it, we personally think it was. Even with going to bigger ones in the past. We really enjoyed this one a lot. We went on a Monday around 4:30 pm and it was just us the whole time. The gift shop was also really nice afterwards too.
I love visiting Madame Tussaud's museums. Amazing detail and a fun thing to do. I happened to find a Groupon deal for tickets.
They encourage you to take pics and use the props and you also get a complimentary photo at the beginning.
Walked in and had a lovely chat with a nice woman working the front desk (named April, we believe). We got our tickets off Groupon for a good deal and she helped us with getting those scanned. We even got a complimentary photo which was real nice! I was hoping to see more wax figures or more music genres for each wax figure, but it was still a good experience! The gift shop offered good pricing on several items as well!
Had fun. Figures really are pretty life like in the faces. Up close you can tell they aren't. Especially on the skin on the arms and hands. Almost kinds creepy but still really cool.
First time ever seeing a wax museum in person, and it's incredible how realistic they look! This wasn't originally on our list of things to do, but certainly glad we did! Very cool to see all the artists and the history attached to them, and as a lifelong rocker, it was super cool to see 'The Prince of Darkness's - Ozzy! 🤘
Belmont Mansion
| Address | Belmont Blvd. and, Acklen Ave, Nashville, TN 37212 |
|---|---|
| Maps | Click here |
| Website | Click here |
| Opening Hours | Monday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Phone | (615) 460-5459 |
I was excited to go, but no impressed especially for the price. It's not that big & the people working there aren't that friendly. It was interesting history, but not the BIG advertisement they put out for it & not worth $18 a person. 3 stars only for the history lesson of this one family.
Definitely buy the discounted tickets off Agoda.
We love visiting historical homes and the preservation of Art & Family Stories. This home is amazing and the life of Adelicia. Her love for the children, her husbands, the war, the prenupes, garden, art, furniture... history in the middle of a college. It's affordable, interesting and I loved that you also included the stories of the other families that lives/worked the plantation.
The ticket gave me free range of the home, which has a well documented history. Some of the furniture is authentic, but most of it is similar to what would have been popular for that period of time. A very fancy home.
Great place to visit. We ended up here while on the trolley tour. It was $18 each to get in but so worth it. It was a self-guided tour and you were able to take pictures inside, which was really great considering a lot of the other historic homes that we visited while in Nashville would not allow you to. The guide brought us in and gave us a quick story about how the house came to be. After that we were able to walk around on our own, but just being careful of the artifacts that were in the home. Really really wonderful place. Beautiful architect and beautiful items which belong to the homeowner as well as other pieces from that time era. You can stay as long as you'd like. The guides were very knowledgeable and very friendly. Great historical home to visit.
Historic mansion in Nasheville with the nicest tour guides, too. Some of the furniture is from the original sets. Other furniture is period accurate.
Tips for Visiting Nashville Museums
To ensure your cultural excursion is as smooth and enjoyable as possible, there are several logistical nuances to keep in mind. While Nashville is a welcoming city, its popularity as a tourist destination means that popular attractions can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons like summer and during major music festivals. Planning ahead is not just recommended; it is essential for a stress-free experience.
- Book Timed Tickets in Advance: Many of the most popular venues, particularly historic homes with limited square footage, operate on timed entry systems. Booking online before you arrive guarantees your spot and often saves you a few dollars compared to walk-up rates.
- Utilize Ride-Sharing Downtown: Parking in the downtown core can be expensive and confusing due to one-way streets and event traffic. If you are visiting museums near Broadway, consider using a ride-share service or the free Music City Circuit bus to avoid the hassle of parking garages.
- Check for "Free Days" and Discounts: Several institutions offer discounted admission for local residents, active military, or students. Additionally, look out for rotating community free days or "pay-what-you-wish" hours if you are traveling on a budget.
- Allow Time for the Gift Shops: In Nashville, museum gift shops are often curated by local artisans rather than filled with generic trinkets. You can find high-quality vinyl records, local literature, and unique crafts, so don’t rush out the door immediately after the exhibit ends.
- Respect the Artifacts: Many of these locations house priceless, one-of-a-kind items, from original song manuscripts to ancient pottery. Observe the posted rules regarding flash photography, food, and drink, and maintain a respectful distance from the displays to help preserve them for future generations.
Exploring Nashville’s museums offers a richer understanding of why this city has become a cultural magnet for the world. It allows you to see the contrast between the high-energy performance halls of today and the quiet, historic rooms where legends once wrote their first songs. By mixing the glamour of the music industry with the weight of world history and fine art, Nashville provides a well-rounded cultural diet that few other Southern cities can match.
As you walk through these halls, you will find that the spirit of Nashville is not just heard—it is seen, felt, and preserved. Whether you spend an hour or an entire afternoon in a single gallery, you are participating in the story of a city that values its past as much as its present.
