Historic house museums serve as a way to time travel to the past and see firsthand how our predecessors lived—and, in the case of the former homes of famous musicians, chances are, some of your favorite songs may have been written under that very roof. Below, House Beautiful has rounded up a list of celebrated musicians’ former homes that you can visit across the globe (when travel is safe again!), including the one-time residences of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and more.
The Hendrix Flat in London, England
The decor of the London flat (or apartment) where Jimi Hendrix lived in the late ‘60s is just as bohemian as you would expect—and we might even take some cues from the rock legend and hang a Persian rug on our own bedroom wall. This is the only former residence of Jimi Hendrix that still exists, and, according to Kathy Etchingham (who was the singer’s girlfriend when he lived here), Hendrix himself shopped at a nearby department store in search of fabrics to decorate the home, an activity that would sometimes startle fellow shoppers who recognized him. If you’re itching to visit another musician’s home after perusing Hendrix’s place, German-born composer George Frideric Handel’s house-turned-museum is located just next door.
The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Judy Garland was born in—and spent the first four years of her life at—a Grand Rapids, Minnesota home that is now known as the Judy Garland Museum. This historic abode is home to the world’s largest collection of Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia, including the famous blue-and-white gingham dress the Hollywood icon wore when doing test shoots for The Wizard of Oz—and an original serigraph of Garland by Andy Warhol. This property also includes a scenic memorial garden and enough patterned wallpaper to make design lovers jealous. We can definitely say there’s no place like Judy Garland’s home!
The Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, New York
Jazz icon Louis Armstrong may be known for his impressive music career—and rightfully so—but at House Beautiful, we also know him for his former home in Corona, Queens that’s filled with enviable design features. A guest room in the Louis Armstrong House Museum is decked out in a 1960s yellow leaf-print (which is basically a sunny version of the iconic Brazilliance pattern) that can be seen on the room’s curtains, wallpaper (which even covers the ceiling!), and a spacious sofa with matching pillows. Being matchy-matchy never looked so good!
The Mozarthaus Vienna in Wien, Austria
Thanks to the Mozarthaus Vienna, you can travel back in time to the 1780s and see exactly how Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived. Given that the former owner of this house went on to become one of the most celebrated composers of all time, it’s only fitting that part of this space doubles as a concert venue—in a room that boasts a hand-painted ceiling and paneled walls, no less. From 1784 to 1787, Mozart lived here with his family, and he wrote works including “Le nozze de Figaro” and three of his six Haydn Quartets here.
Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee
Perhaps the most famous former residence of a musician is Graceland, the one-time home of Elvis Presley. The King of Rock and Roll purchased this house in 1957—at just 22 years old—and he lived here until his death in 1977. Graceland is a Colonial Revival-style dwelling that sits on an impressive 14 acres, so there is plenty to see and do here. To name just a few activities you can pursue at Elvis’ former home, you can stay at the Guest House at Graceland, dine at various restaurants on the property, and take a tour of the Presley Motors Automobile Museum (which includes his famed pink Cadillac!).
The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica
The Kingston, Jamaica house where reggae legend Bob Marley lived became a museum in 1987, and since then, everyone from former President Barack Obama to Princes Charles and Camilla have toured the abode. In 1976, while he was living here, Marley survived an assassination attempt after seven armed men stormed the house. Upon visiting the Bob Marley Museum, expect to see the three Rastafarian colors—green, yellow, and red—just about everywhere you look: on a picket fence surrounding the former residence, at the museum’s entrance, and on part of the house itself.
The Allman Brothers Band Museum in Macon, Georgia
Although the Allman Brothers Band only lived in the Tudor-style home known as Big House for three years—from 1970 to 1973—they made good use of their short time here. One of the band’s founding members, Dickey Betts, wrote numerous hit songs in this house, including "Blue Sky,” which he wrote in the living room, and "Ramblin' Man," which was written in the kitchen. And the songwriting doesn’t end there—Greg Allman wrote “Midnight Rider,” "Ain't Wastin' Time No More,” “Please Call Home,” and "Leave My Blues at Home" here as well. This house was originally built in 1900, and it’s now home to the largest collection of Allman Brothers Band memorabilia.
The Beethoven House in Bonn, Germany
The Beethoven House (or Beethoven-Haus, in German) was founded in 1889 and it’s currently one of the most visited music museums in the world, and one of Germany’s most popular attractions. In 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the back part of the abode, which is sometimes called the house at Bonngasse. And although the charming pink exterior of the Beethoven House happens to resemble that of a Charleston, South Carolina townhouse, don’t be fooled—this former residence is actually located in Germany.
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