Cultural Heritage Center Facility
The Birthplace of Country Music is about music — music that is aunique and pure form of American expression; music that is an extensionof the culture and traditions of the southern Appalachian region ofthe United States. Clearly, the exhibits will trace the history, culturalinfluences, and development of country music. Yet the primary focusof the Birthplace will be the music, which will resonate throughout themuseum. A sequence of audio-visual experiences will allow visitors theopportunity to listen to the melodies and encounter the rich musicaltradition first hand.In anticipation of over 75,000 visitors a year, the exhibits will appealto local residents, country music enthusiasts from around the world,and the uninitiated who come to visit the region, all of which comprisea broad range of ages and levels of knowledge. The permanent andtemporary exhibits will expand the Alliance’s presence and educationalinitiatives through educational programming for all ages, live musicalperformances, lecture and film series, and other outreach activities.The major interpretative theme will underscore why the regionhistorically has been and continues to be a fertile breeding groundfor traditional Appalachian music, including Old-Time String Band,Folk, Bluegrass, Americana, Gospel, Piedmont Blues, Country, andother musical genres. In explaining why the music of this region hascontinued to thrive over the years, the interpretive exhibits will addressother aspects of the region’s cultural heritage, including family, religion,folk and traditional arts, work and occupation, the role of technology,and the diversity of the region. Viewed as a whole, the exhibits willillustrate how the area’s musical heritage is intertwined with the region’s- and the nation’s — cultural heritage and how the music has contributedsignificantly to the broader cultural landscape.
