Some were released decades after they were first written
Some music artists have made such important contributions to music that they have museums honoring their lives and careers. While many are tribute museums to music artists who are no longer with us, there are also a number of museums dedicated to living musicians.
In this gallery, we list a number of music museums that are worth a visit. Click on and start planning your trip today!
The ABBA museum can be found in Stockholm, Sweden. It opened its doors in 2013 and includes a ton of memorabilia, awards, and even a recreation of the studio where the group recorded some of their biggest hits.
The Beatles Story Museum is located in the Fab Four's hometown of Liverpool in England. Inside, you'll find an array of fascianting items, including John Lennon's glasses (pictured).
The Louis Armstrong House Museum opened in 2013 in the house where the famous musician and his wife lived. Pictured is the Louis Armstrong Center, an extension of the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, New York City.
Perhaps the most famous place dedicated to a single music star, Graceland celebrates all things Elvis Presley. The King's estate just outside of Memphis, Tennessee offers visitors a glimpse into the life of the rock 'n' roll icon.
There is a museum dedicated to the Man in Black in the mecca of country music—Nashville, Tennessee. Visitors can see a wide range of items, from pieces of clothing to handwritten lyrics, and everything in between.
Kingston, Jamaica, is home to the house and museum of reggae legend Bob Marley. The Bob Marley Museum has had its doors open to the public since 1987.
What better name to celebrate the life and career of country music star Dolly Parton than Dollywood, right? The museum itself is located inside the Dolly Parton-themed amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
This museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, contains numerous items created and owned by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, including manuscripts, photographs, and many more.
The Patsy Cline Museum can be found in Nashville, Tennessee. It has a wide range of items on display, including an outfit from her headlining show at the Mint Casino in Las Vegas.
The Buddy Holly Center opened in 1999 in an old railway depot in Buddy Holly's hometown of Lubbock, Texas. The center celebrates the legacy of the rock 'n' roll singer as well as the music of West Texas in general.
Visitors can see the house where German-British baroque composer George Frideric Handel and American guitarist Jimi Hendrix lived in London, UK.
There is a museum in Indianola, Mississippi, dedicated to the legendary blues guitarist B.B. King. The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center pays homage to the "King of Blues" but also pays tribute to the cultural heritage of the region.
The Willie Nelson and Friends Museum is yet another must-visit museum for music lovers. As the name indicates, visitors will find exhibits about Willie Nelson, but also about other musicians, including Waylon Jennings, Jeannie Seely, and Hank Cochran, to name a few.
The Flagg Grove School in Brownsville, Tennessee, was turned into a museum dedicated to the iconic singer.
The Hank Williams Museum is the work of one of the music legend's most devoted fans: Cecil Franklin Jackson. Jackson opened the museum dedicated to the life and career of Hank Williams in Montgomery, Alabama in 1999.
The museum dedicated to the American folk icon opened in 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Woody Guthrie Center not only celebrates the life and legacy of the music artist, but also offers other things, including artist-in-residence programs and youth music programs.
Phillip Paul Bliss House can be found in Rome, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. This is where 19th-century gospel music composer Phillip Paul Bliss lived.
The Marian Anderson House can be found in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the home of opera singer and civil rights advocate Marian Anderson.
There is a museum dedicated to the life and career of the country music superstar. It opened in 2001 on the grounds of The Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
This cultural center in Shelby, North Carolina, is dedicated to the famous banjo player Earl Scruggs known for his three-finger picking technique used extensively in bluegrass music.
The famous Brazilian singer and actress has a museum dedicated to her in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There, you can marvel at her famous turbans and costumes, among other things.
This museum dedicated to the German composer and pianist Johannes Brahms can be found in Hamburg, Germany.
There are a few museums dedicated to the famous German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven. This one is located in Vienna, Austria.
The house of composer and musician W.C. Handy, also known as the "Father of the Blues," is found in Memphis, Tennessee. Here you will find artifacts, photos, and more.
This is the house of Nigerian afrobeat musician Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti in Lagos. Inside, you'll find a number of items related to both his career as a musician and as an activist.
This museum celebrating the career of the New York punk rock band is located in Berlin, Germany. There, you'll find a ton of memorabilia, including posters, t-shirts, records, etc.
Little Richard lived in this house in Macon, Georgia, until 1955. Sadly, the Little Richard House Resource Center has closed indefinitely in 2024, but fans can still see it from the outside.
The Scott Joplin House State Historic Site is found in St. Louis, Missouri. The famous composer and pianist, known as the "King of Ragtime" lived here from 1901 to 1903.
The performing arts center and museum is dedicated to the songwriter Stephen Foster, who wrote American folk classics such as 'Oh! Susanna.' The Stephen Foster Memorial is located at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has a few museums dedicated to him. The Mozarthaus Vienna is one of the most popular ones.
Sources: (Stacker) (Mental Floss) (Southern Living)
See also: The world's strangest museums
Museums dedicated to musicians that are worth a visit
From the US to Europe and beyond
MUSIC History
Some music artists have made such important contributions to music that they have museums honoring their lives and careers. While many are tribute museums to music artists who are no longer with us, there are also a number of museums dedicated to living musicians.
In this gallery, we list a number of music museums that are worth a visit. Click on and start planning your trip today!