In Bristol, Virginia, this museum centers on the 1927 Bristol Sessions, recordings widely regarded as among the earliest country music records made in America. It focuses on the first recordings there by performers including the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, before they became major figures in the genre. The museum also houses the live radio station WBCM-LP, connecting this history with ongoing broadcasting and performance. By preserving and interpreting the Bristol Sessions and the musicians tied to them, it highlights Bristol’s place in a formative chapter of country music and the far-reaching influence of a local recording event.

Bristol, Virginia · USA