George Jones Museum, Nashville

George Jones Museum, Nashville

George Jones was a one-of-a-kind entertainer so it only makes sense that the museum bearing his name is a one-of-a-kind facility amid all others dedicated to country music stars. Located in downtown Nashville, it's a modern museum showcasing exhibits on the life and music of arguably the greatest voice in country music. Opened in 2015, on the second anniversary of Jones' death, the four-level facility is replete with a restaurant, gift shop and rooftop bar overlooking the Cumberland River.

Jones, like Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Jimmie Rodgers, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Roy Acuff, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, is a Nashville icon who had more country songs on the Billboard chart and more top 40 songs than any country artist in history. Nicknamed "Possum" for his turned-up nose, he lived the honky tonk life – a hardscrabble childhood, prison time, drunken hijinks, multiple marriages, a failed theme park, hit songs about depressing subjects, a near fatal car crash and a final conversion to Jesus Christ. He boasted that he was free to be paranoid, drunk and crazy – and he did it all with style, with his adventures being cited in many of the museum's exhibits. In fact, one exhibit notes that Jones performed sober for the first time in 1984, when he was 53 years old. See it all – his career, one-of-a-kind suits, guitars, awards, friends, memorabilia, album artwork, piano and the iconic green and gold John Deere riding lawnmower that Jones once drove eight miles to the nearest liquor store. Another popular item is the Big Rocking Chair, a photo-op for fans who recall his hit song "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair," which he recorded in his 60s.

If you're thirsty, the museum sells 100-proof George Jones-brand "White Lightning" moonshine, a reference to his first hit song in 1959. Lunch is a treat at the restaurant, especially smokehouse chili, cornbread muffins, pulled pork potato skins, smoked wings, pulled pork and ribs. Old-timers love the Memphis sushi, Kielbasa with cheddar cheese, jalapeno sauerkraut, whole grain mustard and saltine crackers. Sounds like something Jones himself would eat after an all-night bender. One thing's for sure: he would enjoy strolling through this place. Everybody else does.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Nashville. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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George Jones Museum on Map

Sight Name: George Jones Museum
Sight Location: Nashville, USA (See walking tours in Nashville)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

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