This Phoenix museum just got voted one of the best in the US. Here's what's great about it
USA TODAY has announced the nominees for their 10Best Reader's Choice Awards in the museum category and a world-famous Phoenix museum has made the cut.
The Musical Instrument Museum came in at No. 9 on the USA TODAY 10Best list of musical instrument museums in the country.
Every week, USA TODAY 10Best invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across various categories.
From there, the 10Best editors select the final nominees and the public has four weeks to vote for their favorites.
And the Musical Instrument Museum managed to make it through as one of the Best Music Museums in the country, alongside the Johnny Cash Museum and Patsy Cline Museum in Nashville.
"One of the largest museums on the planet dedicated to musical instruments, the aptly named Musical Instrument Museum Phoenix showcases more than 4,200 instruments representing 200 countries and territories from all corners of the globe," 10Best editors wrote.
"State-of-the-art audio and video allow visitors to hear the instruments and see them being played, and in the Experience Gallery, they can make their own music with a variety of instruments, from harps to drums."
What is the world's largest musical instrument museum?
The world's largest musical instrument museum is the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.
The MIM has about 16,000 instruments and pieces of music memorabilia from almost 200 countries and territories.
How much does it cost to get into the MIM?
One-day general admission to the Musical Instrument Museum costs $20 for adults, $15 for ages 13-19, $10 for ages 4-12 and free for age 3 and younger.
Special exhibits have a separate fee. The current special exhibition, "Acoustic America: Iconic Guitars, Mandolins and Banjos," costs $7 ($4 for ages 4-19), if purchased with museum general admission. The fee to see "Acoustic America" only is $10.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at mim.org.
How many instruments are in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix?
The MIM showcases a collection of more than 13,000 instruments and associated objects.
The 200,000-square-foot building has two floors filled with more than 7,000 objects from over 200 countries and territories.
The themed galleries use wireless technology and high-resolution video screens to allow guests to see instruments, hear their sounds and observe them being played in their original settings.
Musical Instrument Museum Phoenix events
The MIM not only houses thousands of musical instruments and memorabilia but also hosts fun and educational events for all ages and types of music lovers.
Some events include learning about various places' musical traditions and how they shaped the culture; others are live performances using specialty instruments. There are even classes for children to learn about music and movement.
You can check out the full calendar of upcoming events at mim.org.
Musical Instrument Museum concert tickets
The museum also presents a full slate of national and international singers and musicians in its 300-seat MIM Music Theater. See upcoming concerts and buy tickets at mim.org/mim-music-theater.
Musical Instrument Museum
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Where: 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix.
Admission: $20, $15 for ages 13-19, $10 for ages 4-12, free for age 3 and younger.
Details: 480-478-6000, mim.org.
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Meredith G. White is the entertainment reporter for The Arizona Republic |azcentral.com. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, as @meredithgwhite, and email her at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why the MIM in Phoenix is a top US musical instrument museum
