BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM

Bristol was officially recognized as the birthplace of country music by the US Congress in 1998. It was accompanied by a museum project sponsored by the highly respected Smithsonian Institute. The museum, open since 2014, highlights Bristol's role in country and bluegrass, from the historic recording sessions of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family by Ralph Peer in 1927. Managed by the federal Smithsonian Institution, it features fun exhibitions, immersive workshops and performances on certain days and evenings, so be sure to check the online program.