Home » Ground broken in Owensboro on $15.4M International Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame

Ground broken in Owensboro on $15.4M International Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame

Expected to be completed in 2018

OWENSBORO, Ky. (June 23, 2016) — City of Owensboro officials and bluegrass music legends participated in a groundbreaking ceremony today for the International Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame.

The $15.4 million project will be adjacent to Smothers Park, the Owensboro Convention Center and the revitalized and growing downtown area along the Ohio River.

International Music Hall of Fame members Del McCoury, Jesse McReynolds, Eddie Adcock, J.D. Crowe and Larry Sparks attended the ceremony.

“Owensboro will be the heart of bluegrass music with this new museum,” said Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne. “Bluegrass history will reside here, its musicians will be honored here, and tourists from around the world will visit here.”

The museum and hall of fame will house the world’s foremost collection of bluegrass artifacts, memorabilia and music recordings in a preserved environment for generations to come. When complete, the facility will be the only full-scale museum of its kind.

On site will be a 450-seat concert hall, recording studio, 2,000-seat outdoor concert area, expansive gift shop, research library, teaching rooms and a rooftop restaurant overlooking the downtown.

Terry Woodward, board chair of the museum, added the tradition of live bluegrass playing all year in Owensboro will continue at the facility’s new home.

“Each week we’ll have live bluegrass shows,” he said. “We are building a place for bluegrass lovers to come play, listen and learn about the music.”

A big focus of the project will expand the museum’s dedication to music education. The Saturday Lessons, Bluegrass in the Schools, instrument camps and live open jams will continue reaching thousands of people.

Peyronnin Construction of Evansville, Ind., was awarded the construction contract. Completion is estimated to be spring 2018.