Music museum ranked in top 10

Programming Director Richard Emmett said the music center is happy that its museum has been recognized by lovers of music, history, arts and culture.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the important story told in our museum and of the influence and impact of the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” said Emmett. “The museum celebrates how the blending of sounds — like those of the banjo and fiddle — on the Appalachian frontier led to virtually all forms of American music.”

This recognition honors those who helped create the Music Center, namely Joe Wilson, former executive director of the National Council of Traditional Arts, and Gary Everhardt, former superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway who first conceived the idea for the Music Center in 1977; and for the Blue Ridge Parkway and National Park Service, which manage the facility, Emmett said.

The Music Center opened in 2002, followed by its Roots of American Music Museum in 2011. The museum hosts a free interactive exhibition that tells the compelling story of the region’s rich musical heritage. From the old-time string bands, ballad singing and dancing that define the traditional music of Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Tennessee; to blues influences and the growth of bluegrass, the exhibit traces the musical origins of the roots-based folk and Americana music of today.

The exhibit was developed by Ralph Appelbaum & Associates, the firm behind exhibitions designs at the Country Music Hall of Fame, American Museum of Natural History and National Constitution Center.

“This accolade is a testament to the rich musical heritage of our region and the dedication of the community and staff who bring this cultural gem to life,” said Patti Price Love, tourism director for the City of Galax. “The center is not just a museum; it’s a vibrant gathering place where the soulful melodies of the Blue Ridge Mountains continue to resonate. This recognition shines a spotlight on Galax, inviting visitors from near and far to explore our beautiful landscapes and immerse themselves in the music that plays a pivotal role in our heritage.”

The readers’ choice poll also highlights the success of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Musical Heritage Trail. Two of its major venues are recognized among the top 10 music museums: The Blue Ridge Music Center and The Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

Complete results for the USA Today 10Best polls include:

Best Free Museum

1. National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center
2. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
3. Saint Louis Science Center
4. Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum
5. Baltimore Museum of Art
6. Wagner Free Institute of Science
7. The Blue Ridge Music Center
8. National Museum of American History
9. National Museum of African American History
10. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Best Music Museum

1. Johnny Cash Museum
2. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
3. The Museum at Bethel Woods
4. Woody Guthrie Center
5. Grammy Museum L.A. Live
6. Grammy Museum Mississippi
7. Patsy Cline Museum
8. Birthplace of Country Music Museum
9. Musical Instrument Museum
10. The Blue Ridge Music Center

The Blue Ridge Music Center and Roots of American Music museum are free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, May through October. A free virtual tour of the Roots of American Music Museum can be viewed at BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org.

The Music Center will host the Deep Roots Many Voices Summer Outdoor Concert Series on Saturday evenings beginning May 25.

USA Today’s 10Best readers’ choice polls highlight the best of the best in categories such as destinations, food and drink, hotels and things to do. Nominees in all categories are submitted by a panel of experts and the final set of nominees are selected by the publication’s editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day.