National Museum of African American Music

By alantvuong on July 21, 2026

Just recently, a friend and I visited Nashville. We wanted to go to at least 1 museum visit during our 3 night stay in the city. We saw that the National Museum of African American Music was downtown and not too far from our hotel, so we decided to go during a rainy Sunday afternoon to check it out.

Getting There

We were staying at Drury Plaza Hotel Downtown which was a 10 minute walk/stroll from our hotel to the museum. We did see the main museum that we wanted to see the previous day: Country Music Hall of Fame. Since it was a rainy Sunday, we decided to go visit another museum close by. We chose the National Museum of African American Music since it was close and I am very interested in that type of music.

entrance to the museum from the street

About the Museum

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) opened in 2021 on Fifth + Broadway in Nashville. It is all on one floor and has 8 different rooms: Roots Theater, Rivers of Rhythm, Wade in the Water, Crossroads, A Love Supreme, One Nation Under a Groove, The Message, and a Feature Gallery that changes ever so often.

had to use wheelchair lift to get in/out of National Museum of African American Music

The museum showcases more than fifty musical genres that were inspired, created, or influenced by African American culture, ranging from early American religious music to hip-hop, rap, and R&B. There is a collection of over 1400 artifacts including clothing from many artists over the years.

lady charged $30.80 for educator discount, and was 1/2 off admission on Soulful Sundays.. total cost $30.80

Our Visit

When we arrived at the NMAAM, there wasn’t a wheelchair button for the main door. When we got inside, we saw that we needed to use a wheelchair elevator lift to get to the lower area. We went down ourselves and got to the main lobby area of the museum.

Museum doors start with show and open every 15 minutes. We entered at 3pm

There was a live band with music playing, food, displays and everyone just singing and having a good time. We were told that the event was happening until 3 PM. It was 2:30 so we thought we’d buy tickets to the museum first and then watch the rest of the live music.

interactive music display

The lady gave us a discount and told us tickets were half price since it was Soulful Sundays. So we only paid $30.80 plus taxes for the both of us. It was a great deal on something we wanted to do anyways. Museum doors start with a show and open every 15 minutes. We entered at 3pm

was easy to get around

The Roots video is where we learn about early African musical traditions, indigenous instruments, and the evolution of the diddly bow. The show was 15 minutes long and it was great learning about the history of African music and to relax a bit in a cool room.

interactive choir with robes

After the video, we go to the central area called Rivers of Rhythm. This interactive display showcases over 400 years of videos, music and links to different Black music genres and major milestones in American history. I really enjoyed this exhibit but was not able to reach the full touch table. I did get my friend to help me a few times.

instruments from the past

The rest of the exhibits were similar where we got to learn about artists throughout the years and their accomplishments. Some even had their iconic outfits on display. It was easy to get around the museum and they even had a choir booth with robes to wear so we could sing our heart out.

icons

The interactive wristband experience was cool too, which allowed me to engage with exhibits throughout the museum and build a personalized playlist to access later. It was a unique and thoughtful touch!

hip hop

Final Thoughts

Overall, my friend and I spent almost 90 minutes in the museum but could easily stay longer if we had more time. Whether you’re a music lover, history buff, or simply someone who appreciates culture, this museum is a must visit. You will have a deeper understanding of the music we enjoy every day and the legacy behind it. I would definitely go again. Especially on half price Soulful Sundays!