Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Hall of Fame
& Country Star Museum

During the 1980's Bill Monroe had operated a bluegrass museum in Tennessee, first on Music Valley Drive near Opryland and later in Twitty City. In 1984, the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame was created for which Monroe himself would hand pick the inductees for their substantial and enduring contributions to bluegrass music. The first Hall of Fame inductees were: Carl Story, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, The Sullivan Family, Mac Wiseman, Don Reno & Red Smiley, The Seldom Scene, The Osborne Brothers and Monroe himself. It wasn't until after Bill and his son James decided to tear the old Brown County Jamboree Barn down that the decision was made to move the Museum and Hall of Fame to Bean Blossom.    They celebrated the grand opening of the new Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Country Star Museum during the fall festival September 4-6, 1986. The Stanley Brothers were honored that year and festival performers included: Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys, Johnny Paycheck, Kitty Wells, The Whites, The Reno Brothers, John Hartford, The Sullivan Family, as well as other notable Grand Ole Opry stars and Bluegrass greats.    The museum has grown over the years and there is always something new on exhibit. A walkway of stars paves the entry to the museum with Hollywood-style bronze stars for bluegrass greats, family and friends. Once inside take a self guided tour while listening to a Tribute to Bill Monroe and learn about the story of how Bill Monroe found his musical way to Bean Blossom and the old Brown County Jamboree Barn in the early 50's. Gaze at the pictures on the walls and reminisce about the story of bluegrass beginnings and the legendary Grand Ole Opry.    On display you will find Bill Monroe's personal collection of memorabilia of his life in the business, as well as instruments, clothing, pictures and more donated by legendary bluegrass and country stars like: Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse, Porter Wagoner, Flatt & Scruggs, Stringbean, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and George Jones. Click here to learn more about the Hall of Fame Museum.

As you exit the Museum and Hall of Fame be sure to visit Uncle Pen's Cabin, located in the courtyard. This is a replica of the cabin once owned by Pendleton Vandiver, Bill Monroe's uncle. After Bill Monroe's parents died, he went to live with his Uncle Pen as a teenager. Monroe created the fame of Uncle Pen in a song and the cabin is his tribute to Pen for his musical influence on his life. Click here to learn more about Bill Monroe's famous Uncle Pen and click here to listen to a clip of the song.