If you find yourself in Cleveland, or just passing through the Mississippi Delta town, the Grammy Museum Mississippi is offering a new experience you don’t want to miss.
Music America: Iconic Objects From America’s Music History will open on Friday, Sept. 20, and display around 100 objects related to the best American music. This unique exhibit was built by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., with the support of Visit Mississippi, Mississippi Humanities Council, Ergon, Inc., and South Delta Planning and Development District. In the new exhibit, they have all come together to tell the story of a few iconic musicians throughout history.
“The Music America exhibit helps tell the complex story of American music by featuring objects from artists of all genres, including those who put music from the Delta on the map,” Grammy Museum Mississippi executive director Emily Havens said. “Together, these artists and the songs they’ve made describe our national soundtrack. From rock and roll and country to the blues, jazz, and other genres, visitors will learn how music has shaped and interpreted our national identity.”
Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History will be on display through April 13, 2025, and feature iconic and unforgettable objects from artists such as Lead Belly, Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Buddy Holly, Whitney Houston, B.B. King, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra. A few examples of what will be on display include:
- Late 18th century hymnal
- Edison Standard Phonograph
- Springsteen’s outfit from the cover of the 1984 album Born in the U.S.A.
- John Coltrane’s saxophone
- Leonard Bernstein’s outfit and baton
- Original handwritten lyrics to John Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses”
- Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Number One” guitar
Outside of Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History, there are several other exhibits currently calling the Grammy Museum Mississippi home.
If you enjoy listening to music, then you will love the interactive Song Bar exhibit at the Grammy Museum. This exhibit allows you to listen to iconic artist’s performances and illustrates the musician’s amazing talent for making music.
If you are a “Swifty” or just enjoy Taylor Swift’s music, the Taylor Swift: Through the Eras exhibit will be on display until Feb. 2, 2025. Swift has been making history for the past 18 years with 14 Grammy wins. The exhibit cataloging her career up to this point includes:
- Taylor’s BCBG Max Azria dress worn during tour performances for her self-titled album in 2007
- Swift’s custom Taylor GS6 “Sparkle Guitar” played throughout her Fearless Tour in 2009-10
- A red sparkle top Gibson Les Paul played by Swift during her Speak Now World Tour
- Custom Marina Toybina ensemble and Laduca boots worn during Swift’s performance of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” on the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Telecast
- The custom jumpsuit and boots from Taylor’s 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards performance of her 1989 hit, “Out of the Woods”
- Custom Jessica Jones bodysuit and jacket and Christian Louboutin boots worn by Swift during her 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour
So, if you are a fan of music and museums, take a trip down to the Grammy Museum Mississippi and spend a day looking at all the exhibits they have to offer. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
