Country Music Treasures

Discover country music—an American art form with roots in folk and blues—through the Smithsonian's extensive collections. Memorabilia from legendary artists such as Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Charley Pride showcase the genre’s rich heritage. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings preserves the foundational sounds that shaped country music, as well as its subgenres: bluegrass, cowboy songs, old-time music, and more.