National Blues Museum

The National Blues Museum is a music museum in downtown St. Louis with rooms containing artifacts, recordings, and displays that show how this musical form developed over time. The spaces are organized so visitors can follow the different phases of this music's history.

The museum was created in the 2010s as a new cultural space in St. Louis, focusing on documenting a musical form with deep roots in the region. This effort gathered in one place what had previously been scattered across different collections.

The music shaped generations of people and their expressions, visible in how visitors explore stories of artists who shared their experiences through sound. You can feel the deep connection between life, hardship, and artistic expression that still defines the genre today.

The museum has regular opening hours on several days per week when visitors can enter, and you should check ahead if planning a specific day. Wheelchair access and parking options are available, and you should plan about two to three hours for a full tour.

On certain evenings, the museum hosts live performances where local and visiting musicians play on stage and audiences experience the music in a small, intimate setting. These sessions connect the museum's historical focus with contemporary music from that tradition.