USA TODAY 10Best
10 best music museums across the nation
Best Music Museum (2023)
The United States has been the birthplace of numerous musical genres, and some of the world’s most famous singers, songwriters and performing artists start here. These 10 museums – voted as the best by readers – celebrate musical history through the lens of a specific artist or genre or with a big-picture approach. These are the 10 best music museums in the U.S. for 2023.
- B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center - Indianola, Mississippi
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - Nashville, Tennessee
- Patsy Cline Museum - Nashville, Tennessee
- GRAMMY Museum Mississippi - Cleveland, Mississippi
- Birthplace of Country Music Museum - Bristol, Virginia
- Motown Museum - Detroit, Michigan
- The Museum at Bethel Woods - Bethel, New York
- GRAMMY Museum L.A. Live - Los Angeles, California
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, Ohio
- Johnny Cash Museum - Nashville, Tennessee
Photo courtesy of B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
No. 10:
The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola celebrates the blues – America's music – and the man who helped spread its popularity around the world. Interactive exhibits and artifacts trace the history of the blues through its Mississippi Delta roots.
Photo courtesy of Country Music Hall of Fame
No. 9:
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville celebrates the genre's greats while tracing the history and traditions of country music from its pre-commercial roots to the present day. The museum is also home to the 776-seat CMA Theater for live performances.
Photo courtesy of Patsy Cline Museum
No. 8:
Patsy Cline died young – she was only 30 years old – but she had a big influence on the American country music industry in her short time. This Nashville museum explores her life and work through artifacts, personal belongings, video and audio recordings and costumes.
Photo courtesy of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi
No. 7:
The 28,000-square-foot GRAMMY Museum Mississippi opened its doors in 2011, and it currently hosts more than a dozen exhibits exploring American music history. Mississippi was chosen as the site for this second GRAMMY Museum due to its rich musical heritage.
Photo courtesy of Birthplace of Country Music
No. 6:
This museum showcases the roles Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia played in the development of country music. The Smithsonian affiliate traces this musical history back to the 1927 Bristol Sessions recording – an event that helped shape the sound of commercial country music. The collection includes photographs, printed music, recordings, concert posters, instruments and a variety of recording and playback gear.
Photo courtesy of Motown Museum
No. 5:
The Motown Museum in Detroit, aka Hitsville USA, is the home and heart of Motown. Tens of thousands of people visit this location, one of the region’s most bustling tourist hot spots, to see historical memorabilia and photos and learn more about the history of Motown Record Company. Make sure you visit Studio A, where some of the most popular Motown music was recorded.
Photo courtesy of C/O Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
No. 4:
The Museum at Bethel Woods is dedicated to preserving the stories of Woodstock, the most famous three-day music festival in history. Visit the original site of Woodstock and be transported back in time via their main exhibit that takes visitors through the 1960s with pictures, music and films.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Sapp
No. 3:
Exhibits at the GRAMMY Museum L.A. Live in Los Angeles tell the story of American music through permanent exhibits, such as "Culture Shock," which explores how music and culture collide, and "Crossroads," which traces the evolution of music genres over time.
Photo courtesy of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
No. 2:
Yes, this is the hall of fame for rock stars. This museum on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland opened up shop in 1995. Today, visitors can experience different theaters, seven floors of exhibits, all kinds of interactive stations and more, while learning about some of the most influential rock musicians in history.
Photo courtesy of Johnny Cash Museum
No. 1:
This dedicated space to "The Man in Black" is packed with Johnny Cash memorabilia, including costumes, gold and platinum records, handwritten song lyrics and even a piece of the wall from the home he shared with his wife, June. A small theater screens clips of Cash’s television and movie appearances.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based... Read More
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Amber Gibson
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels... Read More
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes, National Geographic Traveler, Departures, Four Seasons Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.
Amber Gibson
Amber Gibson spends 350 nights a year in hotels searching for the latest and greatest in the travel industry. Her writing and photographs have appeared in print, online, and on the radio for outlets including Forbes, National Geographic Traveler, Departures, Four Seasons Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, NPR, Saveur, Departures, Rhapsody, Hemispheres, American Way, Private Air, and Serious Eats. She graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and received a fellowship to attend the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Champagne, dark chocolate and gelato are her biggest weaknesses.
Chez Chesak
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor... Read More
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Chez Chesak
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications: MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations and The Family Vacationist e-newsletter provide destination reviews, tips and seasonal roundups for all aspects of travel. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravelforum.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
