Museum from Home
Museum Resources for Adults and Kids
The Birthplace of Country Music is bringing our museum to you with our “Museum from Home” virtual resources, an initiative created during the pandemic. From museum tours and exhibit highlights to activities for families and students, our goal is to be of service and to provide fun and educational ways to engage with the museum, even when you can’t make it through our doors!
Museum Video Highlights
In a series of videos, Dr. Rene Rodgers, Head Curator at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, takes you behind the scenes at the museum for a deeper dive into the stories behind some of our displays, an introduction to the 1927 Bristol Sessions story, a brief exploration of Black contributions to early country music, and some fun activities families can do with their kids.
Student Activity Sheets
Our staff has created a number of fun activities to engage students and families in content related to the museum, from songwriting and the instruments used in early country music to important figures from the 1927 Bristol Sessions—including Nipper the dog!
Monthly Speaker Sessions
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s monthly Speaker Sessions bring a variety of scholars, musicians, and experts to our audience as a way to explore music, history, Appalachian culture, and more. The live programs are free and open to the public in person and via Zoom.
Recordings of past talks are shared below.
To view upcoming speaker topics, please see our events page.
Virtual Story Time
Check out our Virtual Story Time archives where we read one or two children’s books, often followed by a related word or reading activity. Virtual Story Time is primarily geared to children aged 3-6 years old, but may be enjoyed by older children and adults as a fun family-together activity! Stories have been chosen to relate to the museum’s content, musical heritage, and Appalachian culture. Videos are available below.
Smithsonian Resources
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and as such, we want to honor that connection by sharing just a few of the free digital resources that are available through the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian Learning Lab has a whole host of distance learning opportunities related to science, social studies, culture, and the arts. Another great resource is the National Museum of American History’s O Say Can You See blog, filled with great reads about American history and the amazing items and stories found in the Smithsonian collections. The Smithsonian’s newest museum, the National Museum of African American History & Culture, has created several “collections” via the Learning Lab that explore history, art, life, and culture through the African American lens. And Smithsonian Gardens has some classroom resources that can help you connect with nature.
Other Ways to Enjoy BCM from Home
You can access other BCM content through a variety of outlets, including:
Listen While I Tell
“Listen While I Tell: From the Birthplace of Country Music & Beyond,” our blog that shares stories related to history, music, culture, and our local and regional communities.
Archived Radio Bristol Shows
Radio Bristol archived shows, from bluegrass, honky tonk, folk, garage rock, and early hillbilly to Smithsonian Folkways, old 78s, and local recordings. Check out the two museum shows: Radio Bristol Book Club and Museum Talk.
Online Performances
Online performances, a chance to catch recordings of past Farm and Fun Time®, Radio Bristol Sessions, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and other BCM music events.
