U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum

The U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum opened in April 2005 in downtown Paintsville, Kentucky, dedicated to the country music artists who grew up along U.S. Route 23 in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Through 14 rotating exhibits, the museum tells the story of a region whose everyday Appalachian life shaped a genre — with authentic memorabilia, instruments, photographs, and interactive displays honoring Loretta Lynn, The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, Billy Ray Cyrus, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Tom T. Hall, Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, Patty Loveless, and more, much of it donated by the artists or their families. The museum draws between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors each year and hosts Front Porch Pickin every Thursday night — an ongoing live performance series featuring bluegrass, gospel, and country music open to all ages. For private gatherings, The Great Room accommodates up to 225 guests for weddings, reunions, holiday parties, meetings, and concerts. The space is equipped with a sound system, projection and video capabilities, and a kitchen facility stocked with appliances for catering. Parking is available directly adjacent to the building.