The Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame was an excellent museum with terrific exhibits, a fantastic collection of memorabilia,  great sound clips and videos, and an extensive amount of information about the history of country music.  It is the world's largest repository of country music artifacts and one of its largest music research centers. It opened in 1967 at the head of Music Row but in 2001 moved to its current location in downtown Nashville. 

We spent 2 hours here wandering through the passages of country music history. It was a bit of a walk down memory lane as many of the names and faces were familiar as my parents loved country music. It was like I was coming home, hearing the sounds of my youth.  They were all there; Hank Williams,  Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley,  Jimmy Rogers, Conway Twitty, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, the Carter family, Johny Cash , Glen Campbell - they were all on display and their music.  Clothes, boots, guitars, albums, photographs, jewelry, and even Elvis' s gold Cadillac, were housed on three separate levels within this building.  

The gold and platinum records awarded to artists who had sold 500, 000 or 1,000, 000 copies of their music was displayed on a double sided wall that spanned the three levels.  There were thousands of them! Again, it was Elvis who dominated the awards, he was such a successful prolific recording artist.  

The Hall of Fame Rotunda,  with the words "Will the Circle be Unbroken" (Carter family classic) engraved on stone bars on the outside of the Rotunda was impressive.  Artists could only be inducted into the Hall of Fame if they were still in the music industry after 25 years - this obviously cuts out anyone who is simply a one song wonder!  The list of names in this area was amazing, a sign of the enduring nature of country music and the talent of some of these artists.  

A few tears were shed in the Merle Haggard (pictured) section as I remembered times gone by and my father's passion for his music.  Haggard's music was played at dad's funeral.  Country music and its artists have the ability to tell the stories of ordinary people and the rawness and struggles of life.     I was surprised at how much I appreciated this museum and may even invest in some "country" for my collection!  

The Johny Cash Museum was also an excellent museum.  Portraying Cash's early life, his music, military service, acting, benevolence and faith, this museum captured the breadth of Cash's impact in so many fields.   Although much smaller than Graceland, the amount of memorabilia on Cash was still astounding.  

His early life of poverty in a large family where his mother's faith had a profound effect on all her children helped to provide a context in which to understand the person behind the fame. The incredible story of how he made his first record at Sun Studios in Memphis with a group of mates is the stuff of dreams, hopes and a dose of good luck.  Borrowed instruments, only one song to their name and barely any practice, was the beginning of a remarkable career that would span decades.    

Cash trivia included information like;  Cash recorded over 1500 songs, was the only artist to have recordings over 6 consecutive decades, collected 17 grammy awards has sold more than 100 million records, presented over 130 hits on the billboard chart more than anyone in history, and the list continues.  

I was keen to see this museum because of Cash's commitment to reform in the prison section, his advocacy for indigious Indians and his faith. Cash's performances in prisons paved the way for prison reform and made him an icon for those who suffered injustice. The "Man in Black" spoke and sung the language of the broken, the underdog and the outcast,  and he became an idol to the poor and to the rich.  His foray into movies and television also had their seasons,  including hus time at the Ryman with "The Johny Cash Show".   I decided to buy a CD - a collection of hymns as I already have his Prison CD's!!!