Drifting Down the River of Sound

Hours

Tuesday - Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday: 1 PM - 5 PM
Mondays: Closed

Location

General Admission

Interact with the history of Bluegrass music and the people and instruments who made it. Tour through limited-time exhibits, permanent features, and the Hall of Fame itself.

*Includes free audio guide with admission

Admission

Adults $14
Seniors/Active Military: $12
Students 6-18: $12
Children 5 & under: Free

Members

Members get free admission to the Hall of Fame and Museum and much more, including discounted merchandise and early opportunities to purchase show tickets. Support our mission and become a member today!

Become a Member

General Admission Tickets

Group Rates: Call 270-926-7891

Special pricing & event packages are available for tours or groups.

Call 270-926-7891 to arrange a unique trip, live performance, or guided tour.

To truly capture the energy and excitement of bluegrass, we suggest starting your homecoming experience with a self-guided tour through the River of Sound, where you will revisit history and see memorabilia you won’t find anywhere else. Dynamic displays and interactive exhibits connect you with the evolution of bluegrass while paying homage to its innovative creators.

Your pilgrimage begins on the first floor:

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. There is something very compelling here for the casually curious, seasoned fans, and day-trippers alike.

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.

Visitor's Guide