Mountain Music Museum, Traditional music heritage museum in Kingsport, Tennessee.
The Mountain Music Museum in Kingsport collects instruments, recordings, photographs, and memorabilia from the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. The exhibits document the instruments and personal items that shaped regional mountain music traditions.
The museum opened in 1998 at Bristol Mall in Tennessee, established by bluegrass musician Tim White and business owner James Bryant. It operated until 2019, when rising costs forced the permanent closure of its location at 316 Broad Street.
The collection focuses on regional musicians like the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Flatt & Scruggs, and The Stanley Brothers, whose influence on mountain music remains visible today. These artists shaped how traditional music was lived and passed down in the Appalachian regions.
The museum was long accessible from Tuesday through Saturday, allowing visitors to explore regional music history at a comfortable pace. The spaces were compact, making it easy to see all exhibits during one visit.
In 2018, the museum acquired a rare fiddle belonging to Roy Acuff that had been accidentally donated to a Goodwill store before being recovered. The find highlights how significant items sometimes resurface through unexpected paths.
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