Music Museums
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in Owensboro, is home to the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “hall of fame.” The Bluegrass Hall and Museum is dedicated to the international history of bluegrass music and it pays tribute to bluegrass pioneers and other legends. Located just down the road from Rosine, the home-place of the “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe, the museum features an exciting hands-on experience including interactive exhibits, live performances, art work, costumes and films for people of all ages. There are wide variety of tours, jam sessions, instrumental lessons and concerts, including the three-day ROMP Festival featuring award-winning artists.
Bill Monroe Homeplace
In Beaver Dam, Kentucky visit the Bill Monroe Homeplace and step back in time with a guided tour at the beautifully restored Monroe Family Home and boyhood home of Bill Monroe.
“Uncle Pen’s” Cabin
‘’Uncle Pen’s’’ Cabin is based in Rosine. This is where Bill Monroe first learned to play music. This rural mini-museum will take you deep into the roots of Bluegrass music. You can also visit the Rosine Barn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, where Bill was known to perform and take in a free jamboree any Friday night!
Country Music Highway Museum
The U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum was opened in April 2005, and is located next to the Paintsville Visitor’s Centre off the Paintsville exit of U.S. 23. The Museum exhibits memorabilia about the many U.S. 23 Country Music Highway stars. Visitors can also enjoy live bluegrass music at "Front Porch Pickin".
Hotel Metropolitan
Hotel Metropolitan is located in Paducah, Kentucky and was built in 1909 by Mrs. Maggie M. Steed when she was just 24 years old. An acute businesswoman, she saw the need for a modern “coloured” hotel soon after she moved to Paducah in 1893. Using her husband’s name, she made a deal with a lumber company that owned the land at 724 Jackson St. Her small hotel was soon highly respected and welcomed people such as Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Little Richard, Fats Domino.
Its best days behind it, the hotel closed in 1996. In March 1999, the City of Paducah condemned the building and posted it for demolition. That April the Upper Town Heritage Foundation was given a year to stabilise it and raise money for its restoration. Today the hotel is a delightful place to visit and you can learn about its famous visitors.
