ST. LOUIS — The National Blues Museum, which will explore and preserve the historic significance of the blues as the foundation of American music and celebrate the musicians who created it, will open April 2 in a restored historic building in downtown St. Louis.
The $14 million museum will lead visitors through various blues styles and trace its history and influence on American music from the Mississippi Delta through St. Louis to Chicago, and its ultimate expansion across the United States and internationally.
The museum will include more than 16,000 square feet of interactive technology and artifact-driven exhibits, a 150-seat performance area, special event space and classrooms.
As part of the interactive experience, visitors will be able to create their own blues riff during their visit, adding to the riff on touch screens as they proceed through the museum, ending up with a copy they can email to themselves.
The museum is located at 6th and Washington Avenue in the Mercantile Exchange District in walking distance of the Gateway Arch.
