Experience the rich history of bluegrass music through the stories, instruments, and legends who shaped it. Explore limited-time exhibits, permanent displays, and the Hall of Fame, all in one unforgettable visit.
TEMPORARY EXHIBITS
John Hartford
Celebrate the life, music, and spirit of John Hartford - the genre-defying artist whose creativity reshaped the sound of bluegrass and beyond. This exhibit explores Hartford’s groundbreaking career as a songwriter, performer, and riverboat pilot, featuring rare instruments, artifacts, and archival footage. From "Gentle on My Mind" to his influential work with the newgrass movement, experience how Hartford’s innovation and individuality left a lasting mark on American roots music.
Jerry Garcia: A Bluegrass Journey
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum will celebrate Garcia’s bluegrass music career with a temporary exhibition that will be open to the public for two years. The exhibition will include several of Garcia’s banjos, an acoustic guitar, a pedal steel, and many more artifacts to tell his bluegrass story. Within the Hall of Fame’s exhibit space, “Jerry Garcia: A Bluegrass Journey” will occupy 2000 square feet and include artifacts, interactives, exclusive interview content, and more.
Rhinestone Revival: The Kody Norris Show
Step into the sparkling world of The Kody Norris Show! Now open at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, this colorful display explores the band’s vibrant journey through bluegrass, from their roots in traditional sounds to their high-energy performances and signature rhinestone outfits. Discover the stories behind their songwriting, get a closer look at stage-worn costumes, and experience the flair, fun, and heart that define one of today’s most exciting bluegrass acts.
Industrial Strength Bluegrass
The Industrial Strength Bluegrass exhibition highlights bluegrass music created or connected to southwestern Ohio and was created in collaboration with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, Fred Bartenstein, Joe Mullins, and many others. Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Dr. Neil V. Rosenberg first used the phrase "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" over thirty years ago to describe the music made by those of Appalachian heritage and landed in the Cincinnati/Dayton region as part of the Appalachian Migration along the Dixie Highway. The Osborne Brothers, Jim and Jesse, Red Allen, Larry Sparks, Jimmy Martin and other Bluegrass Hall of Fame members lived and performed in the area for a portion of their careers, and Flatt and Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Dave Evans and others recorded in Ohio recording studios such as King Records and Starday. The Boys From Indiana, The Allen Brothers, and The Radio Ramblers among others past and present, began their career in this region, and Paul “Moon” Mullins featured all of this music and its history on radio and on stages for decades.
PERMANENT EXHIBITS
BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME
In bluegrass, we respect our elders. The crown jewel of the museum is the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame inductee room. This space is designed to properly honor the artists who conceived, shaped and influenced this unique American art form. Founded in 1991, the Hall of Fame is the bluegrass music industry’s tribute to the pioneers of the music and the people who have made it great.
VIDEO ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
In partnership with the Marilyn & William Young Charitable Foundation, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum has captured video interviews with over 225 important bluegrass artists and musicians. These foundational artists tell the story of bluegrass music in their own words, made available through a unique, searchable interface.
SOURCES OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC
Like any artist, Bill Monroe and others were influenced by everything around them, and each element informed their music. In this exciting exhibit, discover the creative sources that shaped bluegrass music, including gospel, jazz, and blues.
DAWN OF THE BLUEGRASS ERA
Follow the stories of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and many more pioneers as they formed the bedrock of this great American art form. In addition to items from Monroe’s estate, you can learn about Monroe’s early years and how he came to create this music.
STARVING OUT
Elvis Presley ushered in a new era, and Rock & Roll took market share from just about every other genre of music, including bluegrass. However, bluegrass artists and musicians found a way to survive and keep the music alive in clubs and small venues in both rural and urban areas. Step back into the 1950s and 1960s to learn more about how these artists who kept the bluegrass flame burning.
FESTIVAL ERA
Bluegrass festivals gained popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s and continue to be very popular today. This section shows how bluegrass music festivals helped re-energize the genre by introducing the culture to a new generation of fans beyond the southeast while creating regional sounds such as California bluegrass, jam grass, and new grass.
MODERN ROOTS & BRANCHES
The first-floor exhibit space ends with an overview and introduction of several contemporary artists and subgenres considered “branches” of traditional bluegrass in what is now the fastest growing genre of music in the world: acoustic driven folk music.
Continue your pilgrimage to the second floor for the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame, Video Oral History, and temporary galleries.
