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Bristol’s reputation as a Mecca for music was launched in 1927, along with the careers of musical legends the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and others, in what has been lauded the “Big Bang” of country music — the historic Bristol Sessions.

How big a role did the 1927 Bristol Sessions play in country music? The legendary Johnny Cash called them “the single most important event in the history of country music.” In 1998, Congress designated Bristol the official “Birthplace of Country Music.” Today, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum keeps local music traditions alive and continues to tell the story of the musical and cultural heritage of the region, its role in the birth and development of country music, and its influence on music around the world.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

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.