Museum from Home - The Birthplace of Country Music
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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

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: From the Birthplace of Country Music & Beyond,” our blog that shares stories related to history, music, culture, and our local and regional communities
  • Radio Bristol archived shows, from bluegrass, honky tonk, folk, garage rock, and early hillbilly to Smithsonian Folkways, old 78s, and local recordings. There are also two shows directly tied to the museum: Radio Bristol Book Club, a monthly show done in partnership with the Bristol Public Library and featuring reader discussions of books focused on museum content, music heritage, and Appalachian culture and stories, along with author interviews, and Museum Talk with René & Scotty, a show that explores the work of museums and other cultural institutions throughout the United States and beyond.
  • Online performance, a chance to catch recordings of past Farm and Fun Time, Radio Bristol Sessions, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and other BCM music events
  • Social media, where we share a variety of interesting content and news about upcoming events at the museum, festival, and radio station
  • 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.

    Social Media

    Social media, where we share a variety of interesting content and news about upcoming events at the museum, festival, and radio station.

     

    Support the Museum

    Learn More

    Keep Bristol’s rich music heritage alive for future generations. Make a donation to the Museum or become a member of our 1927 Society.