This post and website may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase through them we may earn a commission and receive compensation. This also helps us run our blog, free for you to enjoy. Please read our Disclaimers page for more information.
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) was a must-see attraction for us during our recent vacation in Nashville. We share some pictures of our visit to this impressive, educational, and cool museum that is worth experiencing by music fans!
“…is the premier global destination for music lovers of all generations and inspires, educates, and transforms your appreciation of American music.”
-Vision of the NMAAM
Although we were only in Nashville for a short stay, we made sure to visit the National Museum of African American Music! The museum, which officially opened in 2021, should be experienced by fellow music lovers! We recommend spending between two to three hours here to explore! More reviews can also be explored below:
Location
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is located in downtown Nashville, on Broadway, close to other popular attractions, including:
- Ryman Auditorium – 1-minute walk
- Assembly Food Hall & Hattie B’s Hot Chicken restaurant – 1-minute walk
- Bridgestone Arena – 2-minute walk
- Country Music Hall of Fame – 5-minute walk
We visited the museum after visiting the Civil Rights Room and Collection at the Nashville Public Library. The Civil Rights Room is also well worth the visit for those interested in the Civil Rights movement and it’s history in Nashville. The public library is free to visit and approximately a six-minute walk from the library to NMAAM.
National Museum of African American Music: Galleries
There are several galleries in the museum which “share a different narrative and a unique perspective on African American music and history”:
- Roots Theatre
- Rivers of Rhythm
- Wade in the Water
- Crossroads
- A Love Supreme
- One Nation Under a Groove
- The Message
Each area is fascinating to explore and showcases memorabilia, clothing, historical artifacts, and more! Visitors walk through the museum at their own pace and can also choose whether to engage in the various interactive experiences.
It was very interesting to explore the museum which features historical musical background, from slavery to the evolution to today’s music!
Immersive & Interactive Exhibits
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) has exhibits that are interactive and fun to explore. These included touch panel interactive screens, “create a hip hop beat”, and more.
There was so much to see and do. I loved seeing the timeline of music presented and learning the history of music including blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip hop.
Personally, I enjoyed the various short films and interviews shown on large screens throughout the museum. The films were well done, informative and captivating.
In addition, it was interesting to see instruments, artifacts, and memorabilia from artists, such as Whitney Houston’s wardrobe.
One of the most memorable experiences at the museum was when footage of Prince performing Purple Rain at the Super Bowl was being shown.
And follow us, Nurture Happiness Today, on Instagram! We share videos and more pictures related to our articles!
The Prince visuals and sound surrounded us, in floor-to-ceiling screens. Visitors were in awe of Prince, like me, and paused to experience the performance.
National Museum of African American Music: 2023 Special Exhibits
This year, 2023, the musical movement of hip-hop celebrates 50 years! As such, the National Museum of African American Music is also showcasing a special exhibit all year long to celebrate the 50th anniversary. In 2023, each season, the museum features a region of the United States.
During our visit in August, the exhibit highlighted the East Coast in Hip Hop. There were framed illustrations and interpretations provided by Andre Leroy Davis!
NMAAM Gift Shop
Before we left the museum, we stopped by the gift shop, Amplify, by the entrance. The store sold items such as small souvenirs and clothing.
Since we collect various mementos from our travels, we purchased a cute souvenir NMAAM magnet that was in the shape of a vinyl record.
Conclusion
We loved visiting the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM)! The museum and galleries presented the history and artists in engaging and impressive exhibits that made our visit really enjoyable!
We highly recommend making time to visit the National Museum of African American Music. It is a “must-do” attraction in Nashville for fellow music lovers and would surely return! Have fun in Music City!
National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM)
Address: 510 Broadway Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Museum Hours (subject to change):
- Sunday 12pm – 5 pm
- Monday 12 pm – 5 pm
- Tuesday 10 am – 5 pm
- Wednesday 10 am – 5 pm
- Thursday 10 am – 5 pm
- Friday 10 am – 5 pm
- Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Confirm hours directly with the museum, particularly for holidays. The museum does not admit visitors less than one hour prior to closing.
If you are travelling to Nashville, be sure to also check out our related articles that may interest you:
- Tour: article on our Nashville Golf Cart Tour: sightseeing, awesome murals, and tasted moonshine and whiskey at a popular distillery! A popular and unique sightseeing experience!
- Hotel: article on the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville, boutique-style hotel where we stayed!
Nashville Downtown Hotels
For Nashville hotel availability and pricing, click here for the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville or click here for Nashville hotels or the map below.
We stayed at the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville which is in a convenient area if attending a concert at the Ascend Amphitheatre and also for exploring the city. There are also several other hotels nearby, including:
- Four Seasons Hotel Nashville – 5-star hotel that is four-minute walk from Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville
- Hilton Nashville Downtown – 4-star hotel
- Omni Nashville Hotel – 4-star hotel
- The Westin Nashville Hotel – 4-star hotel
Nashville Popular Tours
Be sure to explore this fun city! Our article here, describes the awesome combo Golf Cart Nashville tour we did and highly recommend. And click below to explore reviews and popular tours around Nashville!
Our visit to the museum was self-funded. The views and opinions expressed in this article are from personal experience(s). Our content and this article is informational only, not facts, and cannot be construed as professional advice. We always give our honest opinions on topics, experiences or products, made in good faith. Any product or service claims, made by the product or service, should be verified with the manufacturer or provider in question. There may be potential errors on our website, for example due to changes and unintentional mistakes. Thank you.
For more articles, be sure to take a look at Nurture Happiness Today‘s other features on travel, food, and inspiration for happiness:
- Nurture Happiness Today TRAVEL and RESORTS & HOTELS
- Nurture Happiness Today FOODIE
- Nurture Happiness Today – inspiration for happiness such as quotes, speeches and lifestyle posts.
