Fifty-four years ago today (April 1, 1967) was a big day for country music and the genre's fans: It was on that date that the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Nashville, Tenn.
The Country Music Association (CMA) originally established the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 and spent six years planning and building the museum before it officially opened on Music Row. The Hall of Fame quickly became a destination for not only tourists but also Music City locals, who came to view artifacts from their favorite country music artists, past and present, including photographs, instruments, documents, clothing and even vehicles.