The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, located in Long Branch, New Jersey, has opened its doors to the public. The 20-time Grammy winner's legacy and the history of American music are celebrated in a two-level venue that features a floor dedicated to US genres including blues, country, hip-hop, and jazz.
The museum, which cost $53 million, was largely financed through donations from Springsteen fans with means. Exhibits include a gold jacket that belonged to Elvis Presley, a saxophone used by John Coltrane, an Eddie Van Halen guitar, and a Chuck D cap, loaned by the artists or their estates.
Visitors can navigate the full range of styles and eras through listening stations and touchscreens, although there are notable omissions such as disco, funk, house, and techno. A virtual library brings together some of the key books for the singer, who was a college dropout and recounts in a video that reading only became a passion when he was 28.
The museum also features a replica studio where visitors can mix their own tracks using a mixing desk. Springsteen's personal story is told through exhibits, including his first concerts on the campus of Monmouth University and the formation of his E Street Band.
