Travel the world through music at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)! With more than 7,500 instruments from over 200 countries and territories on display, MIM’s galleries and exhibit spaces offer a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors of all ages.
Link With Legends
Connect with your favorite musicians in MIM’s Artist Gallery exhibit, which showcases instruments played by some of the most influential artists in history. Inside the gallery, you’ll find exhibits featuring instruments, stage outfits, awards and rare memorabilia for Elvis Presley, Maroon 5, Johnny Cash, Carlos Santana, George Benson, Buddy Rich, Glen Campbell and many others.
Beat of Your Own Drum
Feeling inspired? Make your own music at the Experience Gallery. Here, visitors can play instruments similar to the ones on display throughout MIM. Explore self-made musical sounds by banging a gong, strumming a ukulele, or recruiting the whole family for a go on the large communal drum. You can also witness musical instruments designed to play on their own in the Mechanical Music Gallery, including the “Apollonia” orchestrion playing a rendition of “Copacabana.”
Travel the World Through Music
Head upstairs to check out MIM’s five Geographic Galleries displaying music and cultures organized by regions of the world: Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and United States/Canada. Witness historically significant and rare instruments, such as rare mandolins from the Zéliker Collection and a 1919 Egyptian ‘ūd, alongside multimedia of musical performances showing the instruments played in their original cultural context for an immersive, unforgettable experience. Be sure to also stop by the Collier STEM Gallery to explore the science behind some of your favorite instruments and the physics of sound creation.
Special Exhibitions
An extension of MIM’s permanent collection, the Target Gallery offers rotating special exhibitions throughout the year. Past exhibitions include Acoustic America: Iconic Guitars, Mandolins, and Banjos; Treasures: Legendary Musical Instruments; The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon; and Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power. Visit the MIM website to see current and past special exhibitions.
Learn and Listen
MIM’s Conservation Lab provides an unparalleled opportunity to see instruments being restored and preserved. Observe the careful process of musical conservation first-hand, from examining and cleaning to restoring and repairing, through a large viewing window. You can also sign up for a “VIP” Tour to visit the lab for an up-close look at MIM team members working on conservation projects.
MIM hosts hundreds of shows each year, across all genres, in the acoustically superb 300-seat MIM Music Theater. Concert series are offered seasonally and introduce sounds from around the world, from rock to jazz, classical to folk. Signature Events take place on select weekends each month to animate the museum’s galleries through curator talks, crafts, live performances, film screenings, workshops, and more.
Shop and Dine
Before you head out, grab a few keepsakes at the Museum Store. Shop during museum hours or online to discover unique music-inspired gifts, including apparel, books, home décor, CDs and art.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish, MIM’s award-winning Café Allegro features scrumptious global cuisine 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The café’s rotating menu boasts hot entrées, salads, soups and grill items that showcase local produce and flavors from around the world. Grab-and-go snacks and beverages also are available during museum hours.
United Through Sound
MIM, ranked one of the top 12 museums in the United States by Tripadvisor, offers a variety of curated tours for music lovers of all ages to help make the most of your visit. Whether you choose a guided or self-guided option, you’ll discover that MIM’s galleries convey the rich diversity and history of global musical practices while reflecting how cultures come together to create music⎯ the language of the soul.
