Marty Stuart Breaks Ground on Final Phase of Congress of Country Music
The final phase of Marty Stuart’s Congress of Country Music is finally moving forward, with a groundbreaking ceremony held last week (12-16) in downtown Philadelphia, Mississippi. Construction set to commence in the first quarter of 2025.
The Congress of Country Music in Marty Stuart’s hometown is a $30 million project encompassing some 50,000 square feet of total space that will include an expansive museum to display Marty Stuart’s massive collection of over 22,000 individual pieces of country music memorabilia, as well as internationally traveling exhibits.
Stuart’s collection was the largest private collection of country music artifacts. In August, Stuart officially donated his entire collection to the Country Music Hall of Fame while entering into a partnership with the Hall of Fame so that both institutions could exchange artifacts to populate displays. Stuart had been loaning items to the Hall of Fame for many years previous.
Along with a museum, the final phase of the Congress of Country Music will also include an education center where lessons, lectures, presentations, and other events will be held. The project has been endorsed by the Grammy Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and the Library of Congress.
The first phase of the Congress of Country Music was the opening of the 500-seat Ellis Theater in 2022, which is currently hosting shows on a regular basis. First opened in 1926, the Ellis Theater has been completely renovated. John McEuen, Pam Tillis, and Frank Foster are all scheduled to play the theater in early 2025. A warehouse where Marty Stuart’s artifacts are stored was also completed on the Congress property in 2016.
“This is a big day for the Congress of Country Music,” Marty Stuart said. “This has been an idea that is long been in the works. Of course the Ellis Theater was Phase 1, and it is up and running and doing great. And now we start to build the rest of it. So the first quarter of next year, dust will fly. We’re gonna build the rest of this thing, and then there will be museum space, educational space, and a community hall. So it will be a beacon for Philadelphia, for Mississippi, and for the nation.”
Helping the final phase to move forward was a donation from the Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust out of Reno, Nevada. In recognition, the Congress of Country Music will coin a portion of the property the “Cynthia Lake Green Room and Administration Building.”
“This is more than just a museum project,” says Marty Stuart. “It’s about the preservation and furtherance of our musical history and culture. With the support of incredible partners, we’re creating a space that will inspire, educate and connect generations through the stories of country music.”
December 22, 2024 @ 1:58 pm
Marty sure is a visionary, a consummate dreamer. Much needed. Much respect.
December 22, 2024 @ 2:39 pm
Back in the 80’s, me and my Dad went to Nashville and the Opry.
We stood in line to meet Porter Wagoneer after the show, and it was clearly a highlight in Porter’s life to finally be able to shake my Dad’s hand.
Marty’s of the same cloth. He makes it all seem very personal and sincere, unlike the modern variation of the business he’s a part of.
December 22, 2024 @ 3:48 pm
I got to see Marty live in 2014. I waited around afterwards and he took time to shake my hand and chat with me for a few minutes and answer any questions I had. He’s an absolute class act.
December 22, 2024 @ 4:17 pm
We once stumbled on a special exhibit of some of Marty’s collection at the old state capital in Little Rock AR. Every bit of it was fascinating. Can’t wait for the museum in MS to be up and running. We’ll definitely be making the trip to see it.
December 22, 2024 @ 6:18 pm
I will gladly take a trip down to see this. I genuinely hope this will succeed and it’s amazing he wants to bring life to his old hometown. My concern is, will people support it?
December 23, 2024 @ 7:24 am
Kevin,
That is my question a swell. Hope they do!
December 23, 2024 @ 3:29 pm
Check on County Boy Eddie in Cullman Al.Hear he has a large collection of stuff .
December 24, 2024 @ 8:13 am
Way back in the mid 90s I worked at TNN. I somehow got assigned to most, if not all, the Marty Party shows we taped. One was shot at the Wildhorse Saloon. Towards the end of a dinner break, we are all hanging out backstage about to get back out at it. Marty walks in and starts talking and cutting up with some of us. Making his way around to me, he asked what I did on the show. I told him I was a video maintainance engineer…I fix what all these other guys break. He laughed and said, ‘let’s hope you ain’t gonna be working very hard tonight then’.
He did that with the other shows I was assigned to that he was on as well. Down to earth and personable. It’s great he’s trying to preserve as much country music history as he can.
December 28, 2024 @ 9:09 am
I have known Marty Stuart since 1986. I can’t think of anyone ( maybe Charlie Daniels) who has made efforts to preserve the soul of country music. I for one being a Jersey Shore guy, can’t wait to visit Philadelphia the next time I’m in Mississippi. Congrats Marty !!