September 2, 2021
Best Museums Near Our Downtown Nashville Hotel
Nashville may be better known for its world-class performance venues—among them, of course, some of the most fabled theaters and clubs in the music industry—but the city also lays claim to more than a few fine museums.
As a guest at the historic Union Station Nashville Yards, you’re perfectly positioned to explore these institutions, which cover a lot of territory subject-wise. While enjoying our boutique accommodations and amenities, make a foray or two out to Music City museums—you’ll be glad you did! Here are three of the best just a stone’s throw from our door.
Nashville boasts the newest of seven North American locations of the legendary Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the original of which opened in London way back in the 1830s to showcase the lifelike creations of French-born Marie Tussaud (Madame Tussaud herself). Music City’s version offers a number of different themed galleries and includes quite the who’s-who of wax figures, dominated—appropriately enough, given the context—by a slew of music legends, from Muddy Waters to Taylor Swift. Prepare to be dazzled (and maybe just slightly unnerved)!
Pay a visit to what’s widely regarded as the best-preserved early presidential homes in the U.S.: the Hermitage, which served as Andrew Jackson’s on-and-off residence from 1804 till his death in 1845. The seventh American president, who sat in the White House from 1829 until 1837, is also buried here along with his wife, Rachel. The grounds include Jackson’s 1819-built Greek Revival mansion as well as the “First Hermitage,” the farmhouse built between 1798 and 1800 for Nathaniel Hays, from whom Jackson bought the property; this became Jackson’s slave quarters after the mansion was built.
The Hermitage, which also includes gardens and other formal plantings and ranks among the largest open spaces in the Nashville metro area, hosts several exhibits, including Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm, charting the man’s biographical saga, as well as First Hermitage: Worlds Apart, Side by Side, delving into the farmhouse’s heritage and the lives of Jackson’s slaves.
The Country Music Hall of Fame
There is, of course, no locale more associated with country music than Nashville, and any fan of the genre—or, really, anybody with an interest in music and cultural history in general—will want to make a pilgrimage to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Some of the greatest musicians, songwriters, and performers in American history—Roy Acuff, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and so many more—are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The museum collections here are spectacular, including a treasure trove of photographs and sound recordings as well as iconic instruments and stage wear.
Explore Great Nashville Museums With a Union Station Home Base
You won’t find a better launch pad for taking in the Hermitage, Madame Tussauds, the Country Music Hall of Fame, or other Nashville museums than the Union Station Nashville Yards. Call one of our 125 bespoke rooms and suites home in one of Music City’s most vibrant and exciting districts, and delve into some fascinating history and culture during your stay with us!