Songbirds

Event venue · Chattanooga

Songbirds

Event venue · Chattanooga

206 W Main St, Chattanooga, TN 37408

Highlights

This non-profit gem in Chattanooga is a lively hub for music lovers, showcasing a rotating collection of vintage guitars and rich musical history, all in a clean, inviting space.

206 W Main St, Chattanooga, TN 37408 Get directions

songbirdsfoundation.org

@songbirdsfoundation

@cntraveler

"If you like guitars or any kind of music, Songbirds is a treasure trove. The world’s largest display of rare vintage guitars is estimated to be worth more than $200 million and belongs to a group of anonymous collectors. The 14,000-square-foot space includes a z-shaped museum upstairs and Songbirds South, a music venue downstairs, so there's more than one way to experience it all. Part of what makes it so cool is that the installations go beyond just the instruments themselves. On any given visit, you’ll see around 500 guitars on display—but that’s only about 25 percent of the entire collection, which rotates through an ever-changing line-up. You’ll see Gretsches, Fenders, Les Pauls, and instruments from just about every genre imaginable." - Jennifer Bradley Franklin

3 Best Day Trips from Atlanta

View Postcard for Songbirds

Robert Jones

Google

Such an awesome experience and a real gem to the Chattanooga community. You will be hard pressed to find a more passionate community of musicians that not only spends a tremendous amount of time preserving music and music history, but ones that are encouraging the youth in music. Absolutely love this place and highly recommend it to anyone!

Sandra Hyers

Google

Super fun venue performing! Beautiful stage!

tess

Google

Such an awesome experience. Would out on the very top of your list of things to do in Chattanooga! Reviews were mixed so we weren’t really sure what to expect but the museum exceeded our expectations and then some! Beautiful museum-clean, well organized, informative with a lot of interactive exhibits. My 14 year old who’s very into guitars absolutely loved it. He was so intrigued throughout. Said of things we did in Chattanooga (Ruby Falls, Incline Railway, and Rock City) this was by far his favorite. While I’m not as in to music as he is, I also found it interesting and enjoyed the historical knowledge there and learning more about Chattanooga’s history too. Clean, modern space with polite, knowledgeable staff. Lovely bathroom facilities. And can’t beat it for $15! We spent about 3 hours enjoying the museum. I’d recommend allowing at least 2 but honestly, even if you’ve just got an hour it’s worth the visit! Oh, and some other reviews mentioned the vault wasn’t open- it’s open now and it’s super cool!

Craig Osborne

Google

Great experience! Slightly smaller than expected however we still spent two and a half hours reading the information and learning about the music scene in Chattanooga as well as all of the great informational exhibits regarding sound, music and the history of some famous players.

Joe Arrigo

Google

Need to visit again to read and listen to everything. Needs 3-4 visits to absorb it all. Love the interactive exhibits! The spotify integration is legit and adds a huge layer of depth to the experience. Really a place for music lovers and enthusiasts. An absolute must visit

Steven Wilson

Google

Whether you are a musician or just love guitars, this is a must visit place for sure! Large exhibit floor featuring different makes and models from various years. 1800+ guitar collection is rotated every few months in exhibits. Not even counting exhibit specials in the Vault. Plus a small stage available with guitars, microphone and electric drum set for an impromptu jam session. Well worth price of admission!

Edward Sazonov

Google

Nice, but not much to see for the price of a ticket. Apparently, the museum used to have a much larger collection that has been returned to the owners. The exhibit has educational materials on the principles of sound, pick-up and amplification but very limited. Look for a coupon on any promotional maps.

Katharine Kenney

Google

Sweet, intimate setting for concerts in Chattanooga. Very clean atmosphere and professional workers. Masks are required for shows. The displays from the museum are rolled to the side, but still visible for concert attendees. I look forward to coming to more shows here.

Jill S.

Yelp

Great displays and inter-actives of local music, musicians, guitars, and equipment. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Caitlin W.

Yelp

My friend and I went here during a trip to Chattanooga and we both had an amazing time! The museum was informative and interactive - great for adults and kids alike! You could easily spend hours in there, there's so much to see and do. Plus, there are several restaurants nearby so it's perfect for a daytime outing. Overall, it was very cool and immersive and we would highly recommend!