Are you looking for things to do while in Nashville Tennessee? Well, then check out the info below. These are the Top MUST SEE attractions in Nashville. When asked what the top 3 choices in Nashville tours are, I would suggest these 3 tours. Of course there are so many choices with all of the amazing things to do in Nashville. But if you are looking for some true history or if you are a huge Country Music fan then these 3 tours will be perfect!

I did a lot of research prior to our trip. I wanted to make sure that I had a fun filled itinerary planned. I also wanted to make sure that we had a chance to truly experience the Music scene in Nashville. What better way then to check out the CMHOF. https://countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame

I was amazed at all the wonderful history that this museum offered. No matter if you are into “New Country” or the Old school Country this museum is sure to please. They have a ton of items on display including- costumes, show outfits and props, music awards and even vehicles. As you walk through the museum you will see not just items on display but also short films playing along with information on singers, songwriters and performers. Seeing all of this in one place was truly an experience.

I have to be honest, I am not a huge Country Music fan so I wasn’t to sure how much I would enjoy this self guided tour, but I will tell you that I was pleasantly surprised. I grew up in a household that listened to Country Music. Old School Country like Dolly Patron, Meryl Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn and more. My Grandma always had an album playing. In the 90s my Mom was a huge fan of “good ole 2 stepping”! Billy Ray Cyrus and Garth Brooks would be the highlight of the parties along with those great dance moves. And of course I personally love Johnny Cash. So many amazing artists over the years that have been apart of our lives. Seeing all the memorabilia from these artists brought back a lot of memories. I hope you enjoy this self guided tour.

*Plan to spend approximately 1.5-2 hrs there.

1. Country Music Hall of Fame

Here’s a little bit of information on the Country Music Hall of Fame

• The museum, one of the largest history museums in the United States, first opened on Music Row in 1967. The museum moved to its current home in Downtown Nashville in 2001, and doubled its size following a 2014 expansion.
• The museum consists of its core exhibition Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music, which tells the story of country music from its pre-commercial roots in the 19^thcentury through its vibrant life today. The museum also runs  limited-engagement exhibitions including the annually updated American Currents: State of the Music, which highlights today’s stars, songs and stories, and how they connect to country music’s rich history.
• The museum’s collections document country music from its folk roots through today. The collection includes manuscripts, sound recordings, videos, photographs, instruments, costumes and other objects. Artifacts and archival materials not on exhibit are housed in the museum’s 46,000 square foot secure, climate-controlled collections storage rooms and in the museum’s Frist Library and Archives.
• Museum educators share the country music story and the museum’s mission through a variety of educational programs ranging from weekly family workshops to the museum’s flagship songwriting program for schools, Words & Music. More than 100,000 people participate in the museum’s education programs each year.

Did You Know?

• They originally planned it to be temporary.
• Only three new honorees are inducted annually.
• Hank Williams was one of the first inductees and it was posthumously. Eddy Arnold, the youngest inductee was not so young. He was  48 years old and still is the youngest inductee ever to receive the honor.
• Taylor Swift donated $4 million to construct the Taylor Swift Education Center.
• Not just concerts, but you can also have a wedding ceremony there.
• There are 466 guitars in the Museum’s collection. These include Mother Maybelle’s 1928 Gibson L5, Lester Flatt’s 1950 Martin D-28, and Emmylou Harris’s 1955 Gibson J-200.
• There is a collection of 11 handwritten song copies. These include “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, “Gentle on My Mind” by John Hartford, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” by Kris Kristofferson.

You can purchase tickets to the CMHOF separately or as part of a package. You have the option of purchasing tickets the day of, but I highly suggest that you pre-purchase them online. Currently you need to choose a time slot to visit. Covid safety protocol policy-Mask are required on all tours.

MUSEUM TOUR RATES

GROUP MUSEUM ADMISSION: ADULT

Adults: $22.50
Tour Operator: $21.50

GROUP MUSEUM ADMISSION: STUDENT GROUP (6-12 y/o)

Student: $15.50
Student Tour Operator: $15.00

*Student group performances are free with Museum Admission

MUSEUM + AUDIO TOUR

Adults: $25.50
Student: $18.50  Effective June 1st, 2018

AUDIO TOUR

Audio Tour (in advance): $3.00

2. Hatch Print

We were super excited about this tour because it is very unique. Not only do guests get to learn about the history and see the actual print shop in action, but you also get to make your very own print to bring home. Hands on activities are always fun. This tour is led by a guide and lasts approximately 1 hour.

TICKETS ARE LIMITED for this tour!

Experience Hatch Show Print with a tour that’s part history, part how-to, and wholly inspiring. If you’re planning to explore the shop and its story on a tour, advance tickets are highly encouraged. Buying online ahead of time is the best way to ensure that you get a chance to get inky on your chosen date.

Some Facts on Hatch Show Print

• Founded in 1879, Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America.
• Today’s posters are printed using the same wood and metal type that has been used for generations.
• With its extensive collection of carved blocks, Hatch Show Print designs and prints posters each year for the likes of the Black Keys, Country Music Hall of Fame member Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, the Rolling Stones and others.
• Tours of the shop, where visitors can watch Hatch Show Print’s designer-printers in action, are available daily

CUSTOM PRINTS AND DESIGNS

Over more than 140 years, Hatch Show Print has designed custom prints and posters for every event, milestone, industry, and idea imaginable, from show posters and product packaging to celebratory keepsakes and simple save-the-dates. If you’re looking to add the timeless look of letterpress printing to your products or promotions, we’re here to custom-create, from idea to inking.

“Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms.” – The Hatch Brothers

If you follow music, art, and culture of the American South, sooner or later you’re bound to run into the letters, images, and unmistakable “look” of Hatch Show Print. We’re one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America, and over the years our posters have featured a host of entertainers, including the early stars of the Grand Ole Opry like Hank Williams, Bill Monroe and Minnie Pearl, and continuing into this century, with artists such as Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash and Guns N’ Roses, to name just a few.

The shop carries on the tradition that put it on the map: At Hatch Show Print, the printer is the designer, and the designer is the printer. This meant large hand-carved wood blocks with iconic imagery printed in bold colors designed by Will T. Hatch and his staff in the late 20th century, and in the early 21st century, the designer-printers on staff at Hatch Show Print draw upon and continue to contribute to the ever-expanding image archive, by carving new blocks, out of wood or linoleum when a poster job calls for it, or by using an old block in a new way.

The irresistible appeal of those turn-of-the-century posters, which were used to promote vaudeville, circus, and minstrel shows across the country, carries through in the work the shop produces today. There’s a reason why music lovers, Americana buffs, graphic designers, poster collectors, and a wide range of businesses continue to turn to Hatch Show Print. The work the shop turns out is, indeed, a tonic for the digital age.

It was really cool to see posters dated back many, many years. Also finding out that most of the work is down by hand was impressive. I don’t want to share to many details because I want you to experience the tour yourself. I will tell you though that it is a cool part of history and we enjoyed the tour.

Along side the print shop room and huge factory there is a Museum that has a few wonderful pieces on display. Most are remixes by artists.

HATCH SHOW PRINT GROUP TOUR RATE

Group Tour: $15.00
Group Operator: $13.00

HOW TO VISIT

Hatch Show Print is located at 224 Rep. John Lewis Way in the same building as the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Hatch Show Print is free to view from the gift shop but guided tours of processes used and history behind the printing company are available as well.

For more information on visiting Hatch Show Print or purchasing tour tickets, please visit their official website here.

What Is Hatch Show Print?

Hatch Show Print is a working letterpress print shop that has been around since 1879. Since then, the independent shop has produced unique designs for major artists like Louis Armstrong, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Jack White, and many others. These vibrant and eye-catching posters aren’t made just for musical artists. Local businesses and celebrity lectures have been known to boast Hatch Show Print designs, as well. The diversity of poster uses demonstrates the print shop’s main purpose: To create memorable designs and to commemorate America’s evolving cultural identity.

What to Know Before Visiting

One of the most popular things to do in Nashville is to arrange for a Hatch Show Print tour. The shop offers individual and group rates (for 15 or more visitors). Each tour allows you to listen to the presses crank, see some of the original posters, and learn more about the history of this thriving business. You can even make a keepsake poster for yourself!

The shop also holds plenty of public events that you can attend when in town. Among the most common are monthly block parties, art crawls, and hands-on workshops for kids. Check the events calendar for more information! You can find the main Hatch Show Print facility in the 5th Avenue lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum building. Be sure to check the hours and locations of each department before planning a visit.

3. Studio B-Historic RCA

This tour was really cool. Not only do you get to hear about the History of the studio and information about the legendary artists from your tour guide, but you actually get to step foot in the recording studio where history was made! Knowing that some of the greatest artists in history like Elvis actually recorded in the same room that you were sitting in, I felt pretty special.- I could feel the wonderful energy of those legends. It was a cool experience.

Some history of the studio

• Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio, where landmark recordings by Country Music Hall of Fame members Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings and many others were made.
• Built by Dan Maddox in 1957, RCA Studio B first became known as one of the cradles of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1960s.
• Today, the studio is a cultural attraction for visitors and serves as a classroom for middle and high school students to learn about the science of sound and recording for technology.
• Preservation of Historic RCA Studio B is made possible through a partnership between the Mike Curb Family Foundation and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2002, the foundation philanthropically purchased Historic RCA Studio B, making it possible for the Museum to provide Studio tours in support of its educational mission.

Elvis Presley may be best known for his ties to Sun Studio in Memphis but the “King of Rock and Roll” recorded a whopping 200 songs in Studio B. Some of his big hits like Are You Lonesome Tonight, It’s Now or Never, and Stuck On You were produced here. Presley was an important part of the studio’s legacy. So much so that the doors to RCA Studio B actually closed for good the day after he died in 1977.

Sneak Peek…

The experience lasts about an hour. The shuttle will take you to the RCA Studios building and you’ll begin with listening to your tour guide share some history and interesting stories. You’ll sample some of the music recorded here – mostly oldies and some country favorites. Dolly Parton recorded I Will Always Love You and Jolene here, Charley Pride recorded Don’t Take Her, She’s All I’ve Got. In recent years, the studio has seen use by artists like Carrie Underwood, Marty Stuart, and Martina McBride. The tour guide claimed that RCA Studio B has produced more hit songs than any other recording studio.

You’ll then make your way with the rest of the group down the small hallway to watch a short film that shows the Studio B being used in the 1950s. You’ll learn about the “X” on the floor (that you’ll eventually walk over when you enter the studio) that marks the spot in the room where the vocal sounds are perfect. This is where the singer would stand during a session while musicians would gather in other areas of the room. 

Your time in Studio B is pretty limited. As I mentioned, the entire experience – including the shuttle ride – only lasts about an hour. This is a fast paced tour so make sure you pay attention the whole time. If you want to get some photos – make sure you position yourself near the front so you’ll have time to take a photo at the piano Elvis Presley used during his recordings. It was apparently his favorite piano and you’re able to sit on the bench and pose for a photo. The guide will give you a quick minute for a few photos but again make sure you take advantage of the time because it is a fast tour.

Elvis was the reason the studio has an interesting mix of lighting fixtures on the ceiling. You’ll see the various colors and a control switch can change the color depending on the mood of the song. The guide mentioned Elvis sometimes would record in complete darkness. You’ll get a sample of that as well.

Our tour guide was great and shared a lot of information about the history of the studio and the artists that recorded there. We were pleased with our choices and I am glad that we were able to fit all 3 tours in.

TICKETS ARE LIMITED

Historic RCA Studio B — once home to musical titans such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, and the Everly Brothers — is one of the world’s most famous recording facilities. If you’re planning a tour, advance tickets are highly encouraged. Buying online ahead of time is the best way to ensure that you get your chosen date.

HISTORIC RCA STUDIO B GROUP TOUR

(includes Museum Admission)

Adult: $37.50
Students: $30.50 Tour Operator: $36.50 / Student Tour Operator: $30.00

Some helpful information-

• All 3 tours can be booked online. I suggest doing this in advance.
• CMHOF is self guided and the other 2 tours are led by a guide.
• Masks are required
• You meet at the CMHOF for all 3 activities. Hatch Print and CMHOF are located in the same building. The studio B tour is offsite. You meet your tour guide at the CMHOF and are bussed over to the Studio.
• There is small coffee cart in the Museum to purchase drinks.
• There is a parking garage near or you can park on the street.
• We started our tour at 11am, then 12:30pm and 2pm and ended around 3:30pm

After the tours we were starving and ready for some lunch and a cocktail! There are numerous places to eat within walking distance. We headed over to The Johnny Cash Bar and Cafe, next door to the Johnny Cash Museum. Check out my other blog posts on Nashville. And don’t forget to follow me on instagram. #chasingthesunshineblog

For more information and photos go to my instagram page

I hope you enjoy your time in Nashville and these 3 tours bring you joy!

XO,

Christy

Chasing the Sunshine Blog

https://www.chasingthesunshineblog.com/how-to-spend-3-days-in-nashville/

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