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Rosine Opens Museum Honoring Home Town Bluegrass Legend Bill Monroe

Bill Monroe Museum

A long-time dream of the small town of Rosine in Ohio County has become a reality. The community opening of the Bill Monroe Museum on April 20 offers a first public view of a collection of memorabilia that’s long been in storage.

Two of the legendary musician's  mandolins will be on exhibit, along with a Gibson banjo played by Rudy Lyle, a member of Monroe's band, The Bluegrass Boys. Some larger items, will also be in the museum, including one of Monroe's Cadillacs, and another Cadillac owned by him and his son, and last driven by another music legend Ralph Stanley.

Special guests at the opening include the Ohio County Judge Executive David Johnston, and Bill Monroe’s son, James Monroe and the musician’s grandson, Jim Monroe.   

New exhibits will be added throughout the season, including memorabilia and photos from many in the community who knew Monroe, as well as from other musicians and their families.

The community opening leads up to a grand opening in September that will complement the return of the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration to its original site at the Bill Monroe Homeplace about two miles from new museum. The Jerusalem Ridge festival has been at other locations since 2011.

The Bill Monroe Museum will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the tourism season.

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