Centrally located in downtown Nashville, the National Museum of African-American Music (NMAAM) is the world’s only museum dedicated to the preservation of over 50 music genres created and influenced by African-Americans. NMAAM features six interactive galleries filled with memorabilia, clothing, and state-of-the-art technology designed to celebrate the musical contributions of African-Americans throughout history.

The Frederick Hart Studio Museum, a recreation of one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century Virginia home studio, is a permanent fixture of the Belmont University campus. One of Hart's most famous works is the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial sculpture, "Three Soldiers," located in Washington DC. Art lovers are given the unique opportunity to step inside Hart’s mind by witnessing his works in various stages of the development process.

21c Museum Hotel boasts over 10,500 square feet (975 square meters) of exhibition space celebrating global contemporary art. While the museum is located within a hotel, the galleries are free and open to the public 365 days a year. Enjoy three floors of curated installations and rotating exhibits, each filled with unique sculptures, paintings, and audiovisual displays that inspire guests to embrace their creative side.

As Nashville’s oldest public historic house, the Travellers Rest Historic House Museum covers a millennium of fascinating history, from the native communities that resided on this land in the 1700s to the enslaved people that lived in the Overton House during the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors of all ages can explore the exhibitions to learn about the stories of the enslaved people who once worked on the plantation and what life in Nashville was like during the Civil War era.

If you’re in Nashville for the music, go deeper by learning about one of its most revered instruments. The Gallery of Iconic Guitars offers visitors an intimate way to view (and even play!) some of the world’s most rare and iconic guitars. Located at Belmont University, the GIG features nearly 500 irreplaceable string instruments, each one accompanied by a detailed story meant to inspire future generations of music lovers from around the world.

The Tennessee Agricultural Museum tells the story of life before electricity. Through over 3,000 artifacts spread throughout the exhibits, an heirloom garden, and historic log cabins, celebrate 19th- and 20th-century farm life through rural relics including horse-drawn plows, buggies, wagons, tractors, weaving looms, and a woodworking collection. Several times a year the museum hosts events such as the Farm Fun Day Festival in July and the annual Farm to Table fundraising dinner.

While technically located in the nearby suburb of Franklin, the Lotz House is worth a visit for any history buff seeking out the best under-the-radar museums in Nashville. At the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, you can still see blood spatters on the floorboards and burnt dents where cannonballs crashed through the home. Today, the Lotz House offers a harrowing glimpse into the past through an impressive collection of war memorabilia, artifacts, and rare antiques.