Cradle of Country Music
Walking Tour

Location: Throughout Downtown Knoxville
Time to Complete: Approximately 1 Hour

Knoxville is one of America’s more dynamically musical cities - remarkable for its part in the development in jazz, blues and rock and roll but critical in the development of what we now call country music. This free, downtown self-guided walking tour explains Knoxville’s ties to Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Howard Armstrong, Dolly Parton, the Everly Brothers, Roy Acuff, and others. It also highlights the stories of some of the artist featured in Ken Burns 2019 documentary Country Music as well as some of the stops on the Ken Burns’ Country Music Pathway. For more information, pick up a brochure at the Knoxville Visitors Center.

"The complete history of music in Knoxville is unwritten and will likely remain so. The city’s most interesting and original developments were most often unnoticed by contemporary chronicles. However, we have more than enough clues to conclude that Knoxville has been among America’s more dynamically musical cities - remarkable for its part in the development of jazz, blues, and rock and roll but critical in the development of what we now call Country Music.”   

 - Jack Neely, author of Knoxville’s Secret History

The Cradle of Country Music Walking Tour Map

Click the corresponding number on the map below to read more about each stop
as well as to get step by step directions to find each location.

Learn More about some of the artists featured: