Nashville: African American Music Museum Admission Ticket

Summary

Stories, sound & soul at Nashville’s music museum

You’ll step into a world where music is history and heart at Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music. Explore interactive galleries, see rare artifacts up close, and catch yourself humming along to legends you thought you knew. It’s more than an admission ticket — it’s an invitation to feel every note.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the low hum of bass drifting out from behind the glass doors on Fifth and Broadway — not loud, but enough to feel it in my chest. Inside the National Museum of African American Music, it didn’t smell like old records or musty velvet ropes (I half expected that), just clean air and a hint of something metallic from all the interactive screens. Our tickets were scanned by a woman with bright earrings who grinned when she saw me staring at the mural near the entrance. “You’ll want to take your time in there,” she said. She was right.

I wandered through rooms where gospel choirs seemed to float out of hidden speakers, and then hip-hop beats would sneak up on you around a corner. There was this one video — a clip of Sister Rosetta Tharpe tearing up a guitar solo — that stopped me in my tracks. A couple next to me started whisper-singing along, not caring who heard. The museum covers more than 50 genres; I didn’t even know half their names before today. Our guide, Marcus, pointed out how so many modern hits trace back to these roots. He laughed when I tried (badly) to pronounce “zydeco.”

Somehow it felt both personal and huge at once — stories about struggle and joy, with artifacts right there behind glass: handwritten lyrics, battered microphones, old ticket stubs yellowed at the edges. Sometimes I’d just stand still and listen as voices filled the space above me. Honestly, I left thinking about how much music is memory for people here — not just background noise but something you carry around inside you long after you walk out into the Nashville sun again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit National Museum of African American Music

• Arrive at museum location
• Explore museum exhibits
• Learn about African American music history
• Experience interactive technology displays
• View artifacts and educational programming

Top questions

Is the National Museum of African American Music wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible throughout the museum.

Where is the museum located in Nashville?

The museum is located at Fifth and Broadway in downtown Nashville.

Does admission include access to all exhibits?

Yes, your ticket includes full access to all galleries and interactive exhibits.

Are service animals allowed inside?

Yes, service animals are permitted within the museum.

Can infants or small children visit?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during your visit.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the museum location.

What’s included

Your day includes admission tickets for entry to the National Museum of African American Music in downtown Nashville; everything’s accessible for wheelchairs or strollers so you can move at your own pace through every gallery and exhibit space.