8 Fantastic Museums in North America for Music Lovers

From Hall of Fames celebrating various genres to collections centered around iconic artists and scenes, nearly every region in North America boasts a music museum. Explore hidden gems like Prince’s creative haven at Paisley Park, just outside Minneapolis, and the world’s largest instrument collection at Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum, a passion project of former Target executive Robert J. Ulrich.

The urge to capture how music influences our lives thrives in museums throughout the nation. Recently, Nashville unveiled the National Museum of African American Music, showcasing over 50 styles ranging from soulful spirituals to beat-infused R&B. Plus, the expansive 52,000-square-foot Hip Hop Museum is set to open in the South Bronx by the end of 2025. Here are eight additional must-visit destinations celebrating the diverse music that has inspired us over the years.

American Jazz Museum

Kansas City, Missouri

The American Jazz Museum is located in the historic 18th & Vine district, known for its vibrant jam sessions featuring legendary figures like bandleader Count Basie and local icon Charlie Parker. A bronze statue of Bird stands at the corner of 17th & Vine, inviting jazz enthusiasts to explore a permanent collection that includes Harold Ashby’s saxophone, Benny Goodman’s brown suede shoes, and the sparkling gown worn by Myra Taylor while performing with the Big Spenders.

Make sure to check the museum’s Blue Room schedule for weekly performances that capture the lively bebop vibe of the 1930s and beyond. Additionally, history buffs and sports aficionados should visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is part of the same complex as the American Jazz Museum, located just two blocks from the YMCA where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the groundbreaking league over a century ago.

For deeper insights into jazz’s origins and its diverse movements across the United States, don't miss the New Orleans Jazz Museum and The National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Nashville, Tennessee

You can easily spend an entire afternoon exploring the vast 350,000-square-foot Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Discover the genre’s journey through time at the permanent exhibit “Sing Me Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present,” then delve into its contemporary landscape with the museum’s annual “American Currents” survey and rotating showcases spotlighting talents like Eric Church and Patty Loveless. Don’t overlook the exploration of Los Angeles’ country rock movement from the ‘60s that launched the careers of legends such as Emmylou Harris and the Eagles.

While a national techno museum is still a dream—hopefully, Detroit will bring it to life to complement the Motown Museum—the Bob Moog Foundation proudly opened its compact yet impactful Moogseum in 2019. Visit downtown Asheville to experiment with synthesizer patches, theremins, and other electronic music tools, all while learning about the pioneer of electronic sounds. For an in-depth look at how Moog’s iconic instruments are crafted and utilized, head over to the nearby Moog Factory, which hosts 45-minute demonstrations in its store twice daily.

National Music Museum

Vermillion, South Dakota

The National Music Museum is deeply committed to preserving rare instruments. This little-known gem in South Dakota famously outbid the Met in 2007 for a circa-1600 cittern, paying around $180,000 for an item that was projected to fetch just $6,000. The New York Times has referred to the museum as an “unlikely Eden” tucked away on the University of South Dakota campus, housing “one of the largest and most significant collections of historical instruments in the world.” With ambitions to enhance its profile, the museum opened the first phase of a much-anticipated expansion in summer 2023, unveiling seven new galleries on the first floor. Coming in March 2024 is “High Strung,” showcasing stringed keyboards from the last five centuries.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Cleveland, Ohio

Embracing a broad interpretation of “rock & roll” that features icons like Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Nine Inch Nails, the Notorious B.I.G., Rage Against the Machine, and Lionel Richie, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame transcends traditional genre boundaries. It embodies the rebellious essence that has captivated fans and record labels alike for generations. Recently, the museum announced a $100 million expansion plan, which will include facilities for traveling exhibits, live performances, and a hub dedicated to nurturing the next generation of rock legends.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music

Memphis, Tennessee

While Graceland and Sun Studio—the birthplace of iconic tracks by Johnny Cash, Elvis, and Roy Orbison—are major attractions, Tennessee's second-largest city offers more. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music narrates the journey of a studio, label, and sound that broke racial barriers during the Civil Rights Movement, supporting legendary artists like Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and Isaac Hayes. A standout feature at Stax is Hayes’ cherished Cadillac Eldorado, showcasing its stunning 24-karat gold accents and luxurious features.

Studio Bell

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

If you think of Canada’s music scene as just Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, and the Tiger Beat era of Justin Bieber, a visit to Studio Bell will change your mind. This expansive venue boasts five floors of exhibitions, the National Music Centre, and four Hall of Fame collections dedicated to country music, songwriters, Quebecois musicians, and the broader industry. Discover everything from indigenous artists to the connection between music and wellness, then relax at King Eddy, a former blues hotspot turned fully restored bar and restaurant, next to the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio that recorded albums like Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street, as well as works by Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Canada’s own Neil Young.

Woody Guthrie Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Exploring the Woody Guthrie Center goes beyond just folk music or the impact of songs like “This Land Is Your Land”—a passionate response to the bland tunes of “God Bless America”—that resonated with fellow artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Joe Strummer. It’s a tribute to social justice.

Living up to the “this machine kills fascists” motto emblazoned on his guitar, Guthrie was a fervent advocate for socialist ideals during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The center embodies the enduring spirit of these principles by featuring a diverse array of rotating exhibits. Recent highlights have celebrated topics like women in country music, Phil Ochs and the peace movement, and the vibrant dance rhythms of American disco.