Discovering the top music landmarks across the U.S. is an unforgettable journey. From iconic venues to historic music cities, this list showcases must-visit spots where you can dive into the sounds that have influenced generations of artists.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Radio City Music Hall
“The Showplace of the Nation”, renowned for its stunning Art Deco architecture, is a legendary attraction that embodies the spirit of entertainment. Radio City Music Hall has been a cultural monument since its opening in 1932.
Carnegie Hall
Here’s one of New York’s most prestigious concert venues: Carnegie Hall is celebrated for its exceptional acoustics and its array of musical performances. The place consists of three auditoriums, including the Main Hall, which seats 2,804 spectators on five levels.
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater celebrates works centering on the Black community. It is famous for its rich history as a cultural hub in Harlem, New York, and for launching the careers of many legendary artists like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Louis Armstrong House Museum
The Louis Armstrong House Museum is a historic home in Queens dedicated to the life and legacy of the legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a multifaceted cultural venue known for its outdoor amphitheater and indoor facilities that host concerts, performances, and community events, all set against the backdrop of the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
National Jazz Museum in Harlem
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem (NJMH) preserves, promotes, and presents jazz through four core programs: education, community engagement and performance, exhibits, and partnerships.
John Lennon’s Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields is a memorial to John Lennon near the West 72nd Street entrance in Central Park. It includes the Imagine mosaic, where many come to pay tribute to Lennon.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Buddy Guy’s Legends
Since its opening in June of 1989, Buddy Guy’s Legends has built a reputation as the premier blues club in the world. We heard that when Buddy Guy himself is in town, he can normally be spotted at the bar. Besides, he plays up to 16 shows every January. Be aware, though: they sell out quickly!
Blue Chicago
World-renowned Blue Chicago has been presenting the best of authentic Chicago blues in a warm and friendly atmosphere since 1985.
Jazz Showcase
The Jazz Showcase is the oldest jazz club in Chicago. It was founded in 1947 by Joe Segal and is now owned and operated by his son, Wayne Segal. The greatest names in jazz have played there.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Motown Museum
Located in Motown Records’ original headquarters and music recording studio, the Motown Museum is home to an extensive array of authentic company artifacts, photographs, costumes, and other valued memorabilia.
Baker’s Keyboard Lounge
The “World’s Oldest Jazz Club” has been continuously running since 1934. Baker’s Keyboard Lounge has featured some of the best-known jazz musicians, such as Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong.
The Majestic Theatre
Rugged and steeped in the city’s music history, the Majestic Theatre is Detroit’s preferred independent concert house. Situated on Woodward Avenue in the heart of Midtown, the 1100-capacity venue opened on April 1, 1915, as one of the world’s largest movie theaters.
Cliff Bell’s
Featuring live jazz, great food, drinks, and an atmosphere reminiscent of a Fred Astaire film, Cliff Bell’s is Detroit’s premier club.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Grand Ole Opry
Established in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is a famous weekly country music stage show in Nashville, Tennessee, known for its live performances, iconic radio broadcasts, and celebration of country music legends and up-and-coming artists. It is considered a cornerstone of American music and culture.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in downtown Nashville, has been called the “Smithsonian of country music.” It is celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and unrivaled collection of historically important country-related artifacts.
National Museum of African American Music
The NMAAM is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Black music in America. The place highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and cultural influence through exhibits, performances, and interactive displays.
Johnny Cash Museum
The Johnny Cash Museum showcases the life and legacy of the iconic singer, featuring exhibits of memorabilia, photographs, and personal artifacts that celebrate his influential career.
Music City Walk of Fame Park
The Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville honors influential artists, musicians, and industry figures who have made significant contributions to the music world. Located in Nashville’s Music Mile, it features stars embedded in the sidewalk, celebrating a diverse range of genres and musical legacies that have shaped Music City’s cultural identity.
Musicians Hall of Fame Museum
The Musicians Hall of Fame celebrates not only the famous performers known to the public but also the studio musicians who played on countless hit records.
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium, also called the Mother Church of Country Music, has hosted legendary artists and remains a key cultural landmark.
Legends Corner
Legends Corner is Nashville’s classic bar experience that provides great country music.
Ole Red
Ole Red Nashville is a must in Music City for dining, drinks, and Blake Shelton-level live music on Broadway Ave.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
Graceland
The famous home of Elvis Presley. What more can we say?
The Blues Hall of Fame Museum
Opened in 2015, the Blues Hall of Fame Museum is a Memphis gem for both serious blues fans and casual visitors.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
The Stax Museum celebrates the rich history of soul music and the influential Stax Records. It features exhibits on legendary artists like Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T. & the MG’s, showcasing memorabilia, interactive displays, and the cultural impact of soul music.
Sun Studio
“The Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll” is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the 50s, from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum tells the story of musical pioneers who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that people still love.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame
What began as a tribute to Memphis’ legendary musicians who shook the world has finally opened as a museum.
Beale Street
What’s on Beale Street? Beale Street is a National Historical Landmark with a rich history of legendary live music. It is also home to three blocks of bars, nightclubs, restaurants, museums, and shops where live music is a constant stream in the heart of downtown Memphis.
BB King’s Blues Club
Named after the legendary blues guitarist BB King, the BB King’s Blues Club celebrates blues music and offers live performances from both established and up-and-coming artists.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
The French Quarter
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, is the historic heart of New Orleans. The area is famous for its lively music scene, with jazz spilling from bars and street performers entertaining passersby.
Top ways to experience the French Quarter
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the legacy of America’s unique musical art form.
New Orleans Jazz Museum
Through dynamic interactive exhibits, multigenerational educational programming, research facilities, and engaging musical performances, the music that New Orleans made famous is explored in all its forms in this museum.
Preservation Hall
Located in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, Preservation Hall hosts intimate acoustic jazz concerts more than 360 nights a year, featuring ensembles drawn from a vibrant collective of over 50 local master musicians.
Louis Armstrong Park
Just steps from the French Quarter sits Louis Armstrong Park with its arched entrance, Congo Square, sculptures, duck ponds, and lots of open spaces for relaxing.
The Spotted Cat Music Club
Located in the heart of the enchanted Faubourg Marigny, just steps away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, The Spotted Cat has been and remains the local favorite for live New Orleans music ranging from traditional and modern jazz, blues, funk, klezmer, and so much more.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
The James Brown Journey
The James Brown Journey takes you to many historic landmarks from the life of the Godfather of Soul. As you explore these funky sidewalks, you’ll trace Mr. Brown’s footsteps—walking where he walked and standing where he once stood.
James Brown Family Historical Tour
Along with a guide, the James Brown Family Historical Tour visits sites that are significant to the singer’s history growing up and living in Augusta.
MACON, GEORGIA
The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House
The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House is housed in the historic home where the band lived and created some of its most famous music during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
HILTONS, VIRGINIA
Carter Family Fold and Music Center
The Carter Family Fold and Music Center is where you will find everything related to the Carter Family—the first family of country music—and learn about upcoming events dedicated to the preservation and presentation of traditional bluegrass and old-time music.
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Born from the collision of rhythm & blues, country, and gospel, rock & roll is a spirit that is inclusive and ever-changing. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrates the sound of youth culture and honors the artists whose music connects us all.
OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY
The Blue Grass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
The Blue Grass Music Hall of Fame & Museum is a vibrant tribute to the rich history and cultural significance of bluegrass music. The facility features exhibits that highlight the genre’s origins, its influential artists, and its evolution over the years.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture’s mission centers on harnessing the power of pop culture through meaningful interaction.
Central Saloon
Central Saloon is a bar, restaurant and, music venue in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1892, the bar is among the city’s oldest. It is the also home of the Seattle sound and the birthplace of grunge.
The Showbox
2024 marked the 85th anniversary of The Showbox. From the Jazz Age to the Grunge Era to the current wave of Seattle exports, the storied ballroom has featured shows by touring icons such as Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, and the Ramones.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
6th Street
6th Street in Austin is a vibrant and eclectic hub known for its lively nightlife and rich music scene. This is where you’ll find a mix of bars, live music venues, restaurants, and shops, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists.
Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
Downtown Austin’s ultimate live entertainment venue, ACL Live at the Moody Theater, is a 2,750-person space where modern music headliners come to put on exceptional shows for extraordinary audiences.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Haight-Ashbury
San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury is a historic neighborhood famously known as the center of the 1960s counterculture movement. It became synonymous with the Summer of Love in 1967, attracting artists, musicians, and free spirits seeking an alternative lifestyle.
Top ways to experience Haight-Ashbury
The Fillmore
The Fillmore gained fame during the 1960s as a hub for rock and psychedelic music, hosting legendary acts like the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
The Hollywood Bowl
Since its opening in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has been the premier destination for live music in Southern California, hosting everyone from Billie Holiday to The Beatles to Yo-Yo Ma under the iconic silhouette of its concentric-arched band shell.
GRAMMY Museum
The GRAMMY Museum celebrates the history of music and the GRAMMY Awards. It features interactive exhibits, artifacts, and multimedia presentations that showcase the contributions of artists across various genres.
Whisky a Go Go
An anchor on the Sunset Strip since its opening in 1964, the Whisky A Go-Go has played host to rock ‘n’ roll’s most important bands and singers, from the Doors, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin to today’s up-and-coming new artists.
The Troubadour
The legendary Troubadour club in West Hollywood has helped launch some of contemporary music’s most talented performers since 1957.
The Roxy
The Roxy is another famous venue for hard rock bands.
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
Purple Room Supper Club Palm Springs
The sophistication and glamour of the Rat Pack era come alive at the Purple Room, the desert’s premier supper club.
CLEAR LAKE, IOWA
Surf Ballroom & Museum
The Surf Ballroom is an American cultural icon as well as an important historical landmark that officially opened for business on April 17, 1933. Artists like The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, Little Richard, Jan and Dean, and Conway Twitty all took the stage there.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
American Jazz Museum
Situated in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the American Jazz Museum celebrates the rich legacy of jazz through interactive exhibits, films, and special features like the Changing Gallery, the Horace M. Peterson III Visitors Center, the Blue Room, and the Gem Theater.
Knuckleheads Saloon
According to the Knuckleheads Saloon’s website, this is where the world’s greatest musicians play.
ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI
National Blues Museum
The National Blues Museum has exhibits that will take you back to the early days of the blues.
TULSA, OKLAHOMA
Bob Dylan Center
The Bob Dylan Center inspires and celebrates fearless creativity by exploring the music and artistry of the Nobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter as a catalyst for personal expression and cultural change.
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From intimate clubs to legendary concert halls and museums, these destinations are perfect for any traveler looking to experience the magic of music in iconic settings. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your musical pilgrimage today!