The museum opened to the public on March 5, 2000. Its mission is to "explore the accomplishments and impact of the music products industry through educational and interactive exhibitions and programs and directly connect visitors with hands-on music making."The museum curates public exhibits that relate to the history of American popular music, the manufacture and retail of musical instruments and
the history of the music products industry from the 1890s to the present day. The museum's galleries consist of more than 450 vintage instruments and artifacts on display, hundreds of audio samples of popular music and an area for visitors to interact with a variety of live, hands-on instruments. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum also self-curates a variety of temporary exhibitions that revolve around a core theme or idea. These exhibitions are on public display at the museum for 6 to 8 months at a time.The museum also organizes public events, performances and lectures whose purpose is to entertain, educate and inform audiences of the benefits and heritage of making music.
