Top Tennessee Museums

Visit the National Museum of African American Music during your time in Nashville for a comprehensive look at the vast contributions that African-Americans have made to American music. The exhibits feature the legacy and accomplishments of African-Americans, using history and interactive technology to this new attraction in Music City.

Follow in the footsteps of country legends on a self-guided tour of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, a downtown venue known as "The Mother Church of Country Music." Explore five exhibits on the Ryman Auditorium’s musical history, with footage of celebrity hosts to introduce each one. This self-guided Ryman Auditorium tour offers the chance to explore Nashville country music on your own schedule, and take a commemorative on-stage photo.

This guided tour of the Belle Meade Mansion offers an unforgettable experience at one of Nashville's most iconic historic sites, with a wine tasting. Explore the impressive 1853 Greek Revival Mansion on a guided tour, then enjoy a complimentary wine tasting at the on-site Belle Meade Winery. Your admission also includes access to the scenic grounds, historic outbuildings, outdoor games, walking trails, gift shops, and the delicious Belle Meade Meat & Three restaurant.

Purchase your admission ticket to the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee in advance to breeze past entrance queues and head straight into the museum, where a wealth of artifacts await. Explore exhibits that display instruments used by the country’s top musicians like Elvis, George Harrison, and Frank Sinatra. Plus, your ticket grants you access to the interactive GRAMMY Museum Gallery®, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the awards.

Explore the best of country music’s past and present with this Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum ticket. Situated in the heart of downtown Nashville, this beautifully modern facility is known as the “Smithsonian of country music,” offering 350,000 square feet of dynamic, state-of-the-art galleries, archival storage, educational classrooms, retail stores, restaurants, and special event space—all with a stunning view of the rest of Music City. It’s a must-see venue for all fans of country music.

Avoid ticket lines at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum when you prebook your admission ticket. Learn about the history of blues, rock and soul music with the help of an included audio guide that adds depth to the museum’s exhibits. Delve into Memphis' musical legacy and learn all about the pioneers such as BB King and Muddy Waters who put Memphis on the map.

Step into Nashville’s musical history on a guided tour of RCA Studio B that includes admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Visit a recording studio that helped to shape the 'Nashville Sound,' then explore country music heritage with interactive exhibits and recordings. Multiple departure times are available for this tour of RCA Studio B and the Country Music Hall of Fame, in the historic heart of Nashville.

Get a 4-in-1, All Access Pass to the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center in Pigeon Forge, and explore fun attractions, appropriate for all ages. Snap a selfie with your favorite celebrity, experience a ‘5D’ adventure, save the world from zombies, and find your way through a fairytale maze.

You don’t have to travel to the West Coast to see your favorite celebrities up close. The Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is the largest Hollywood wax museum in the United States, housing replicas of stars. Come spend the day (or even just a few hours) taking selfies with the wax versions of big stars, pop culture icons, and Pigeon Forge’s famous 40,000-pound Great Ape. Plus, learn little-known facts about the celebrities as you wander the museum at your own pace.

Prebook your National Medal of Honor Heritage Center Admission Ticket before you arrive in Chattanooga and secure your time at the museum as it’s one of the city’s newest attractions and can fill up fast. Use your ticket during the center’s operating hours and go at your own pace through the exhibit. Plus, you’ll also start your visit with a short video explaining the importance of the National Medal of Honor.

Elevate your museum visit with a 1-hour Guided Tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This docent-let experience begins at 8:30am, beginning before the museum opens to the public, and transports guests through country music history with engaging narratives about the people, places, songs and stages that have played a part in the sound's storied history - supplemented by priceless instruments, dazzling stagewear, and iconic artifacts. Following the guided tour, you are welcome to reenter the museum galleries and continue exploring on your own.

Tour the historic Memphis home of the Woodruff and Fontaine families. The Victorian era mansion was built in the French style and is furnished in period antiques. This is your chance to visit the past and learn what Memphis was like in the 19th century. Explore at your own pace on a self-guided tour and learn more by scanning QR codes throughout the house.

Belmont Mansion is the largest house built in Nashville, Tennessee, prior to the Civil War. Constructed between 1850 and 1860 by the Acklen family, the mansion is one of the few homes from this period still standing in the city today, which makes it one of Nashville’s most significant historic attractions. A visit offers the opportunity to explore 19th-century Nashville through the history of this place and the lives of the people who shaped it, including both free and enslaved individuals whose experiences are essential to understanding the site.

Guarantee your entry to the historic Belmont Mansion, the largest house built in Tennessee before the Civil War, by booking your admission ticket in advance. Enjoy an introduction with a historical interpreter, then explore the Italianate villa on a self-guided tour. Visiting Belmont Mansion is an opportunity to explore one of the few 1850s-era homes still standing in Nashville.

Visit the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee, a unique tribute to the history and achievements of women in basketball. Explore the 35,000-square-foot facility housing 206 Hall of Famers, and don’t miss the world’s largest basketball, standing at an impressive 30 feet tall. Test your skills on interactive courts, including a dribbling course and passing skills area. The iconic Berenson Statue welcomes guests, symbolizing the mission to honor, celebrate and promote women’s basketball. This is an enriching experience for fans and newcomers alike, blending education, inspiration, and fun.

Dig into adventure at Pigeon Forge Gem Mine! Perfect for families, kids, and gemstone enthusiasts of all ages, our authentic mining experience lets you uncover sparkling treasures straight from the flume. Every bucket is filled with the chance to find beautiful gems, crystals, fossils, and more. What to Expect Choose from a variety of enriched mining buckets. Wash away the dirt at our running water flumes to reveal hidden gems. Friendly staff on hand to identify your finds. Take home every gem you discover – the treasures are yours to keep! ‍‍ Perfect for Families Little ones love the hands-on adventure, and parents enjoy watching their kids light up as they uncover dazzling stones. It’s both educational and entertaining – a great way to learn about geology while having fun. Convenient Location Located right in the heart of Pigeon Forge, our gem mine is a must-do attraction to add to your Smoky Mountain getaway.

Discover a different side of Nashville’s history with this Belle Meade Plantation Journey to Jubilee history tour. This guided educational tour focuses on the lives and stories of the African Americans enslaved on this plantation. It’s an interactive experience, encouraging dialog and conversation about the history of slavery while honoring the legacies of those who suffered on this property. You’re allowed to tour the property alone after the experience and can enjoy a complimentary wine tasting.

Go behind the curtain at Nashville’s premier country music stage, the world-renowned Grand Ole Opry, on this small-group backstage tour. Walk in the footsteps of countless country music superstars and get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at this legendary venue and show that made country music famous. This is a bucket-list item experience ideal for all fans of country music.

Discover how the Civil War affected Belle Meade and Nashville On the Battle at Belle Meade tour, learn about how the Harding-Jacksons and those enslaved on the property lived through the American Civil War. On this dynamic outdoor walking tour you will make multiple stops across the property, following the footsteps of the soldiers who skirmished at Belle Meade. Discover how the US Colored Troops, the Army of the Cumberland, and the Army of Tennessee fought at the Battle of Nashville, and its impact on the American Civil War. All ages welcome. This tour does not go inside the mansion.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a major stop on many Nashville travelers' itineraries, making ticket lines painfully long on most days. Bypass the annoyance of standing in line just to buy your way in, and instead, purchase your admission ticket online ahead of time. You’ll get to explore the hall of fame at your own pace with an audio guide that’s available in five languages.

Leave Nashville with perhaps the ultimate souvenir—your own letterpress poster from legendary Hatch Show Print—thanks to this great combo tour that takes in two classic country music experiences. Tour Hatch Show Print with a guide, learn how they still make posters for the Grand Ole Opry House & Museum, then create your very own print. After that, explore the Country Music Hall of Fame independently.

Maximize time in Nashville with the Circle Nash Pass, a combination sightseeing pass that offers access to many of the city’s top landmarks. Ride Nashville’s hop-on hop-off trolley to reach several attractions including the Johnny Cash Museum, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Admission to all museums is included.

Step into the heart of Music City at Madame Tussauds Nashville, featuring over 60 lifelike wax figures of iconic musicians from Johnny Cash to Taylor Swift. Explore themed zones like the Grand Ole Opry stage and the Jazz Bar, celebrating the legends who shaped American music. Upgrade your experience with a 5-wine tasting at Amber Falls Winery, blending music history with award-winning flavors (21+ only).