Two Nashville Museums Added to US Civil Rights Trail

The Jefferson Street Sound Museum and the Museum of Christian & Gospel Music were officially designated this week.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:07pm

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Two new Nashville museums, the Jefferson Street Sound Museum and the Museum of Christian & Gospel Music, have been added to the US Civil Rights Trail. The Jefferson Street Sound Museum highlights the area's history as a cultural and musical corridor from the 1940s to 1970s, while the Museum of Christian & Gospel Music houses the first-ever physical location of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Why it matters

The additions of these two Nashville museums to the US Civil Rights Trail further cement the city's role in the civil rights movement and its rich musical heritage. The trail aims to educate visitors about key moments and locations that were pivotal in the struggle for equality.

The details

The Jefferson Street Sound Museum opened in 2011 and offers tours highlighting the area's history as a hub for African American music and culture, hosting artists like Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, and James Brown. The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music, which opened in 2025, features interactive exhibits celebrating influential figures in gospel and Christian music.

  • The Jefferson Street Sound Museum opened in 2011.
  • The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music opened in 2025.
  • The two museums were officially designated as part of the US Civil Rights Trail this week.

The players

Jefferson Street Sound Museum

A museum that highlights Jefferson Street's history as a cultural and musical corridor, particularly from the 1940s to 1970s, when clubs and venues hosted artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles, James Brown, Tina Turner, and Little Richard.

Museum of Christian & Gospel Music

A museum located on Commerce Street that houses the first-ever physical location of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame and interactive spaces celebrating ~200 influential figures in gospel and Christian music.

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What’s next

With these additions, Tennessee is now home to 17 sites along the US Civil Rights Trail, including local landmarks like the National Museum of African American Music and NPL's Civil Rights Room.

The takeaway

The designation of these two Nashville museums as part of the US Civil Rights Trail underscores the city's pivotal role in the civil rights movement and its enduring legacy as a hub for African American music and culture.