Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We've compiled the best of the best in Nashville - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Showcasing the contributions of Black musicians to just about every genre of American music from the Civil War era to today, this important museum dedicates more than 50,000 square feet of exhibit space to showcasing the evolution of African American music and performers. Galleries display instruments and performance costumes from the world of spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip-hop.
A must-visit for fans of the early '80s TV sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard, Cooter's offers a plethora of collectibles and Duke Boys ephemera. After seven seasons portraying the amiable mechanic Cooter on the show, Ben Jones served four years as a U.S. congressman representing Georgia's 4th District. After retiring from public service, Jones opened this museum and gift shop filled with memorabilia, props, and autographed items from the show. Some are for sale and others are too rare for Jones to part with, but they all tell the story of the fictional Hazzard County. Visitors can even get a photo in the General Lee for an added cost.
Guitars are a dime a dozen in Nashville, but the axes on display at the Gallery of Iconic Guitars on Belmont University's campus are truly one-of-a-kind. From vintage instruments to guitars owned by legendary musicians, the guitars in Belmont's collection live up to their "iconic" name. The gallery sits within the heart of Belmont University, internationally renowned for its various music programs. Check the GIG's website before visiting, as University closures or holidays may affect hours.
The legendary Man in Black has a dedicated space in Nashville. Performance costumes, handwritten lyrics, a wall of gold and platinum records—even a limestone wall from the home Cash shared with his beloved June—are among the items in this museum located between Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Interactive exhibits include presentations of Cash's music in formats ranging from 78rpm records to digital downloads. Clips of Cash's many appearances in films and on television are played in a small theater.
Located inside the Municipal Auditorium, the Musicians Hall of Fame is another powerful testament to the musical legacy of the city. You’ll find special exhibits on the Grammy Awards, Motown, Stax Records, Muscle Shoals, and more—and, of course, some Nashville pioneers. Beyond big-name acts, you’ll also learn about the lesser-known session musicians who played on some of the most popular recordings in history.
All the Nashville classics are amassed here at the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and General Store: fringe leather goods, zebra print flasks, cowboy hats, fudge, Goo Goo Clusters, and Donald Trump voodoo dolls. At the back of the general store, buy a ticket and go through the door on your right into the 5,000-square-foot museum. There you’ll find instruments, awards, photos, costumes, and other Willie Nelson memorabilia on display. Even if you’re not a huge Willie Nelson fan, the “and Friends” part of the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum may entice you. There's also memorabilia from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, and dozens of other country music superstars.
