The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum aims to interpret, preserve, and collect the traditions and evolving history of county music. The building provides a remarkably modern touch to the skyline of Nashville, and is centrally located within the city's quickly growing core, across the street from Music City Center and Bridgestone Arena. Nearby is the popular honky-tonks of Broadway. The cultural importance of country music is taught to visitors of the museum through exhibits, educational programs, and publications.
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What features and facilities are available at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum?
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Along with world-class galleries, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum contains:
- The Taylor Swift Education Center
- Event rental spaces
- The 213-seat Ford Theater
- The 776-seat CMA Theater
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It also includes other historic properties, such as:
- The legendary Hatch Show Print letterpress operation
- The Historic RCA Studio B, the oldest surviving recording studio in Nashville
- Recordings by Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, and Elvis Presley, among several others, were made at Historic RCA Studio B.
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Along with world-class galleries, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum contains:
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Is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum accredited?
- The museum has been accredited since 1987 by the American Alliance of Museums.
- This certifies that it operates to the highest standards, provides the public with quality service, and responsibly manages its collection of over two million items.
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What educational programs does the museum offer?
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has created several platforms to make its collection more accessible to a broader audience.
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Educational programs include:
- The Words and Music program, the museum's songwriting workshop for schools
- Instrument demonstrations each week
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In addition to its programs, the museum operates:
- CMF Records
- CMF Press, which publishes books related to museum exhibits
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Why is the museum called the "Smithsonian of Country Music"?
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is known as the "Smithsonian of Country Music" due to its unmatched collection.
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The museum has now doubled in size and includes:
- State-of-the-art galleries
- Retail stores
- Education classrooms
- Archival storage
- Space for special events with stunning views of downtown Nashville
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What is the core exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum?
- The core exhibit of the museum is Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music.
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In this exhibition, visitors are immersed in:
- The sounds and history of country music
- The voices and stories of its architects
- The traditions and origins of country music
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The story is told through:
- Text panels
- Photographs
- Artifacts
- An overlay of interactive touchscreens
- Vintage video and recorded sound
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What does the Sing Me Back Home exhibit showcase?
- The Sing Me Back Home permanent exhibit shares country music's story from its nineteenth-century, pre-commercial roots to its present-day vibrant life.
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The multi-layered experience features:
- Original recordings
- Interactive touchscreens
- Artifacts
- Archival video
- Photographs
- Text panels
- Films
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This immersive exhibit showcases:
- The sounds and history of country music
- The voices and lives of its honored artists
- The meanings of country music
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What can visitors expect from the self-guided tour?
- The self-guided tour takes visitors through various topics, such as "Country During the War Years."
- Each artifact case has a different theme.
- Visitors can see the glassed-in, two-floor central archives throughout their journey.
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum houses its vast collection here, and staff can be seen working with recordings and artifacts.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, Phone: 615-416-2001
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