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This year, NRPA is hosting its first-ever hybrid conference experience with the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference. Whether you are joining us in Nashville, Tennessee, or attending via our virtual platform, park and recreation professionals, champions and industry suppliers will have the opportunity to adapt, connect, unite and lead.
For those who are joining us in Nashville, in addition to the 24/7 live music and mouth-watering barbecue, here are a few experiences in the city you won’t want to miss.
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
The Musicians Hall of Fame honors musicians from all genres of music who have played on thousands of iconic recordings. The museum exhibits take you on a tour of cities that greatly influenced music culture. The museum’s newest addition, The Grammy Museum Gallery, is a 9,000-square-foot interactive exhibit where visitors learn about every aspect of the music industry, such as songwriting and playing instruments.
Location: 401 Gay Street
Walking Distance From Convention Center: 0.7 miles (15 minutes)
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the definitive home of American music, safeguarding more than 2.5 million priceless artifacts, including countless recordings and photographs, numerous stage costumes, and musical
instruments.
Location: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way South
Walking Distance From Convention Center: 250 feet (one minute)
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Johnny Cash Museum
Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, The Johnny Cash Museum is dedicated to the life and music career of the late Man in Black. Exhibits featuring the world’s most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia chronicle Cash’s legacy through stunning graphics, artifacts and more.
Location: 119 3rd Avenue South
Walking Distance From Convention Center: 0.3 miles (six minutes)
Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: The Johnny Cash Museum
National Museum of African American Music
National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is a 56,000-square-foot facility that encourages visitors to discover the central role African Americans have played in shaping and creating all genres of American music. From classical to country to jazz and hip hop, NMAAM integrates history and interactive technology to share the untold story of more than 50 music genres and sub-genres. It is an unparalleled institution that tells a unique narrative through the lens of Black music.
Location: 510 Broadway Street
Walking Distance From Convention Center: 0.2 miles (five minutes)
Hours: Friday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Website: National Museum of African American Music
Honky Tonk Highway
If you want to pack in a lot of live music all in one spot, head down to Lower Broadway, aka Honky Tonk Highway, and pop in and out of legendary clubs like Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge and Robert’s Western World. And remember, you don’t always need to buy a ticket to see live music in Nashville — there’s free music playing all the time!
Location: Lower Broadway Street
Walking Distance From Convention Center: 0.2 miles (five minutes)
Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Website: Honky Tonk Highway