A true Nashville landmark, this week’s featured ADoor Nashville doors belong to the Country Music Hall of Fame located in downtown Nashville.
The Country Music Hall of Fame was created in 1961 by the Country Music Association. Its first three inductees were Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams. Just a couple of years later in 1963, it was announced that the Hall of Fame and Museum would be constructed on Music Row in Nashville. That same year, the Country Music Foundation (CMF) was chartered to be a nonprofit, education organization that would operate the museum.
On April 1, 1967, the original Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened on Music Row at Music Square East and Division Street. Learn more about Nashville’s historic Music Row neighborhood here. It included the Museum, the CMF Press and CMF Records, CMF Library and RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print. A fun fact about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is that country stars Trisha Yearwood and Kathy Mattea worked as tour guides at the Museum before becoming successful in their music careers.
This Music Row location was closed on December 31, 2000 and remained closed until the grand opening of its new (and current, to this day) facility, ten blocks away in downtown Nashville. May 17, 2001 marked its grand opening. The new facility cost $37 million to complete, with an exterior laced with symbolic images of music including windows that mirror piano keys, a diamond-shaped radio mast, and round discs to represent records and CDs to name just a few of its unique design features. Perhaps most interestingly is that when viewed aerially, the entire building appears like a bass clef.
Inside, the museum illustrates the story of country music throughout the turns of two centuries using historic video clips and recorded music. The museum also features live performances and public programs, a museum store and on-site dining.
Another fun fact about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is that it is accredited by the American Association of Museums, a certification that only 750 or so museums have reached (out of 8,000 museums nationwide). This certification means that the museum operates according to the highest standards, manages its collection and provides quality service to the public.
The Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the museum, visit here.