The National Blues Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, part of America's Music Corridor.

America’s Music Corridor

St. Louis sits at the beginning of America’s Music Corridor, a mid-nation tour of America’s best home-grown music. Start your group with this two-day visit to St. Louis and continue to Branson and Kansas City, Missouri to add all of the state’s jazzy and country musical styles. Or, head south along the Mighty Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana to add a southern note to your group’s multi-day, multi-destination music tour.

1. St. Louis Walk of Fame

Start your journey down America’s Music Corridor by getting acquainted with some of St. Louis’ most favored sons and daughters on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in the Loop neighborhood. Music legends such as Chuck Berry, Scott Joplin, Miles Davis, Tina Turner and many others are honored with bronze stars in the sidewalk along the Walk of Fame. Check out the assortment of shops, restaurants and cafes located in The Loop neighborhood (named after an old streetcar turnaround) where the Walk of Fame is located. Vintage Vinyl has an enormous selection of LPs and 45s where you can ask for St. Louis Blues recordings.

A star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame is dedicated to Scott Joplin.

2. Blueberry Hill

The Loop’s epicenter, has plenty of room for group dining and is full of Rock’n’Roll memorabilia, including Chuck Berry’s guitar, and displays dedicated to the Beatles, Howdy Doody, and just about any other collectible pop culture item you can imagine.

Blueberry Hill opened in the Delmar Loop in 1972, as a welcoming hangout with music, food and pop culture memorabilia.

3. Vintage Vinyl

Vintage Vinyl is a must for any music lover. Located on Delmar Avenue, it is one of St. Louis’ longest-running independent record stores, with music selections from every genre. While they primarily sell second-hand vinyl, they also sell CDs, DVDs, posters, and some newer vinyl records. This is the perfect spot to find a new favorite or a hidden gem.

St. Louis Gift Guide_Vintage Vinyl

4. Scott Joplin House

Known as the Father of Ragtime, Joplin spent some of his most productive years in St. Louis at the turn of the 20th century. The National Historic Landmark home is where the young pianist lived from 1900-1903.

At the Scott Joplin State Historic Site, you can tour the musicians modest flat.

5. St. Louis Union Station

History buffs won’t want to miss beautiful St. Louis Union Station, a restored National Historic Landmark opened in 1894. Don’t miss the 3-D panoramic light show which plays on the Grand Hall ceiling everyday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm at the top of every hour.

6. The Honky Tonk

Located in the Music Quarter of St. Louis, The Honky Tonk STL is an up-and-coming live music venue, with live bands every Thursday to Sunday. The bar is located just a few blocks south of Busch Stadium.

7. Gateway Arch National Park

No music here, but no visit to St. Louis would be complete without a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch, towering 630 feet above the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Once you reach your destination, you’ll find a 30- mile panoramic view of the Mississippi River.

The Gateway Arch n downtown St. Louis.

8. Gateway Arch Riverboat Cruises

What better way to get a feel for Ol’Man River, the literal backbone of America’s Music Corridor, than with a relaxing Gateway Riverboat Cruise.

For the best views of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis’ working riverfront, climb aboard one of the Gateway Arch Riverboats.

9. Laclede's Landing

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cobblestone-paved Landing is one of St. Louis’ entertainment districts. Special events take place on the Landing throughout the year.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cobblestone-paved Lacledes Landing sits on the banks of the the Mississippi River

10. The National Blues Museum

The National Blues Museum explores the Blues and celebrates the genre as the foundation of all modern American music.  The facility will educate guests in an entertaining environment that includes high impact technology driven experiences, a 100-seat theater, artifact-driven exhibits and robust public programming.

National Blues Museum is a wonderful place to connect with Black culture in St. Louis.

11. Soulard Neighborhood

The city’s oldest neighborhood is also a center for St. Louis-style Blues music. More than 30 music clubs, restaurants and taverns are scattered among the red brick townhouses and ornate churches. Drive the bluesy neighborhood during the day on your way to the neighboring Anheuser-Busch Brewery and come back at night for a pub crawl and great music.

Soulard’s culinary circuit runs the gamut from spicy Cajun delicacies to elegant private dining for groups. The Soulard Farmers’ Market, founded in 1779, springs to life each Wednesday through Saturday with assorted fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, herbs and spices for sale. After dinner, stroll through the streets and pick out what kind of live music sounds good.

Soulard is St. Louis city’s oldest neighborhood.

12. Casa Loma Ballroom

In the evening, dance your cares away at the Casa Loma Ballroom, an authentic St. Louis dance hall, where the Imperial Swing still reigns supreme, and great live bands heat up the highly polished floor several nights each week.

The Casa Loma Ballroom is an authentic St. Louis dance hall.