After years of fundraising to reach the $3 million benchmark, the
Blues Foundation finally found a home for the
Blues Hall of Fame. Following the 36th annual Blues Music Awards held April 30, the doors opened to the general public at the 421 South Main museum.
Directly across from the Civil Rights Museum, the Blues Hall of Fame is certain to be a popular destination with an expected draw of 20,000 to 30,000 visitors in its first year. The grand opening is a years-long realization for many blues fans who donated nearly $2 million to the campaign. The remaining $1 million came from Memphis foundations and nonprofits.
The 11,524-square foot space covers two stories which house an interactive database of artists’ biographies with multimedia offerings. Clothing, instruments, sheet music and records belonging to some of the blues’ biggest legends are on display. The first floor of the
archimania-designed museum is free and features a rotating gallery. The first exhibition is a series of photographs by Blues Hall of Fame member Dick Waterman.
The Blues Hall of Fame is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students. Blues Foundation members are granted free entry.
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