VISIT NMAAM
The only museum in the United States devoted to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans.
Discover the Legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers
From their roots at Fisk University to international acclaim, experience the story of resilience, artistry, and the music that carried a people’s voice across generations.
Musical Gifts 2025
Join us for the 3rd annual Musical Gifts, Nashville’s largest Giving Tuesday celebration with live performances across genres, a spectacular tree lighting, and the joy of giving back to support music education for the next generation.
12/17
Wed
Join us for the inaugural FRONT ROW at NMAAM event featuring 7× Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Award-winner Jon Batiste in an intimate, one-night-only experience. Experience a 90-minute evening of moderated […]
12/27
Sat
Turn up the volume and celebrate the season with the EPIC CHRISTMAS EDITION of R&B BINGO — a high energy, music filled night where the beats decide your fate and […]
1/7
Wed
Experience NMAAM without the cost on our special Free Admission Days, sponsored by our generous partner, Nissan. Free Wednesdays: Every first Wednesday of the month, enjoy complimentary access to the museum […]
1/19
Mon
FIVE YEARS OF PRESERVING THE SOUNDTRACK. ONE DAY LAUNCHING THE FUTURE. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day—Monday, January 19, 2026—the National Museum of African American Music celebrates a transformative milestone […]
Through thoughtfully curated collections and immersive interactive technology, the museum invites you to explore how this music became the soundtrack of American life—and how the voices of the past continue to resonate today.
Explore the Rivers of Rhythm corridor, the central spine of the museum experience, featuring interactive timeline that links American history with the evolution of African American music traditions.
Delve into the history and influence of the blues, originating from the work songs and field hollers of sharecroppers and lumber mill workers in the Deep South and Mississippi Delta during the 19th century.
Experience the evolution of jazz, beginning with the survival of African indigenous musical traditions in Congo Square, New Orleans, and their influence on the emergence of jazz in the early 1900s.
“There’s something about the gospel blues that’s so deep the world can’t stand it.”
– SISTER ROSETTA THARP
EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHT
The History, Influence, and Survival of Religious Music
The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is not just a cultural destination—it is a national institution that reframes how America understands its musical and cultural identity.
