The Birthplace of Country Music® Museum, a 24,000 square foot facility, which opened in August, 2014, in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institute, tells the story of Bristol’s musical heritage. The Museum provides the BCM with a new, permanent facility to house its operations, including the museum, educational programs, and artistic programming.
The second most visited attraction in the state of Tennessee, the world famous half-mile track, also known as The Last Great Colosseum, is No. 1 in the hearts of race fans. Fans from all 50 states and nearly two dozen other countries flock to Bristol Motor Speedway, built in 1961, for race weekends in both April and September when the track hosts NASCAR Sprint Cup, Xfinity, Camping World Trucks and Modified events.
Going back more than 150 years, Bristol has a proud heritage of being both a fun place to visit and “A Good Place to Live”. Bristol’s “Main Street” is called State Street as it is divided by the state lines of Virginia and Tennessee and is highlighted as The Birthplace of Country Music. It was on State Street in 1927 that talent scout Ralph Peer made the very first commercially produced country music recordings. The recordings known as The Bristol Sessions are recognized internationally as the ‘Big Bang’ of country music.
or those who love the outdoors, it doesn’t get much better than Bristol. The majestic mountains provide a beautiful background for what is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the Southeast. The lakes are nothing short of spectacular and there are multiple parks for picnicking and for play, as well as awe inspiring Bristol Caverns and Appalachian Caverns, golf courses and miles and miles of trails for hiking, and much more. If you’re into hiking, camping and biking, Bristol has multiple city parks, including Steele Creek Park and Sugar Hollow Park.