Musical landmarks

The roots of modern music are laid bare at these melodic monuments from Georgia to Mississippi

THE GRAVE OF

HANK WILLIAMS MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

America’s first country music superstar produced 11 number-one hits before dying of heart failure aged 29. His grave is one of the state’s most visited sites, and the nearby Hank William Museum houses artefacts from his life.

thehankwilliamsmuseum.net

ELVIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHPLACE TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll spent his early years in a small, wooden house, which you can tour as part of the Elvis Presley Birthplace museum. It also features his childhood church, where he first heard the gospel ballads that fuelled his lifelong love of music.

elvispresleybirthplace.com

TRAP MUSIC MUSEUM ATLANTA, GEORGIA

This avant-garde monument to trap music aims to plunge visitors into the cultural conditions that inspired modern artists like 2 Chainz and Cardi B, with installations including a fake drugs kitchen.

trapmusicmuseum.us