We are the

Graphic showcasing multiple blues artists that belong to the national blues museum

A National Home for the Blues

Exterior of the national blues museum located in st. louis missouri

Here, we're preserving the legacy and honoring the history of the music that gave voice to generations. Blues, baby, is the root of all American music, and we're here to show you just how deep those roots go.

We've got exhibits that'll take you back to the early days of the blues, where it all began. You'll see how this beautiful music has touched and influenced every corner of the U.S. and beyond.

You'll meet the legends, the unsung heroes, and the trailblazers who brought the blues to life, who took their heartaches, hopes, and hollers and turned them into a rhythm.

What's more, we invite you to get down and get your hands dirty. Interact, engage, play around. Maybe even make your own blues tune or see a show. It's all part of the ride.

So, whether you're a lifelong blues lover or just curious about the rhythm that's at the core of all your favorite tunes, come on in. We can’t wait to see you.

Exhibits

Early Evolution of the Blues

1900–1930

The Blues Plugs In

1930–1960

The Blues Goes Mainstream

1960–1980

The Tradition Continues

1980–Now

Programs

Live Music in the Legends Room

NBM's premier concert series offers the best blues and Black heritage music (soul, R&B, funk, and more) from renowned local and touring performers. The series is hosted in NBM's state-of-the-art Legends Room concert space, graced by renowned artists like 2x Grammy-winner Bobby Rush, Jontavious Willis, Vanessa Collier, Devon Allman, Eric Gales, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Annika Chambers and many more.
Blues on the Block

NBM's free summer concert series, Blues on the Block, brings outdoor live music to the streets of downtown St. Louis. Hosted at the intersection of 6th and Washington, Blues on the Block creates a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere where all St. Louisans can experience the thrill of a live blues performance without a cost barrier. Blues on the Block features fan-favorite bands and artistic demonstrations from multiple other disciplines, including dance, step, live painting, and spoken-word poetry.
Blues at the Arch

Held on the grounds of the iconic Gateway Arch, Blues at the Arch is the pinnacle of NBM's summer concert season. The free weekend-long festival is hosted in partnership with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and features high-caliber touring and local performers. Blues at the Arch brings music to the heart of downtown St. Louis, reaching audiences who—given St. Louis's history of urban renewal and displacement—are often left underserved by arts organizations.
School Days and Guitar St. Louis

NBM maintains deep connections with local schools, providing educational programming through masterclasses, music lessons, and workshop events at underserved public schools. These include music lessons and STEM-based guitar-building workshops. Free of charge, NBM supplies teaching artists, instruments, tools, engineering kits, and a curriculum adhering to state education standards incorporating specific STEM skills.
Thursday Night Blues Jam

Musicians require spaces where they can hone their craft, and NBM's jam session gives players of all musical backgrounds a chance to participate. Celebrating the oral tradition of blues, the jam helps the next generation of players find their voice. As a free, regularly held community event, the jam has become a cherished destination for musicians and audience members.
More than Music

These workshops use history as continuing education for adults to improve their knowledge of St. Louis's rich history and culture and build skills needed to participate fully in civic life. Each More Than Just Music session starts with a lecture and convenes with a debriefing panel to empower participants to use this information and skills in their everyday life. The sessions cover different topics and themes in history in order for the participants to be able to think like historians.
The St. Louis Blues: Music, Migration, and the Movement

The St. Louis Blues: Music, Migration, and the Movement is a six-day experiential learning workshop for K-12 educators hosted by the National Blues Museum in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. The workshop examines the interdependent relationships between blues music, migration, race relations in urban environments, civil rights, and freedom struggles.
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