We went to the Storyteller's Museum and Hideaway Farm on a Saturday afternoon in July. My husband is a huge Johnny Cash fan; consequently, he has wanted to visit for some time now, but the two hour drive takes effort, especially when you have a full schedule like we do. When we got to the museum, I was surprised at the modest size of it, and I wondered if it would be a value for the money we would spend for admission for three adults and a teen.
When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Sally, one of the owners, and we were given the opportunity to browse through exhibits that included everything from impressive mixed-media art, to artifacts from Johnny Cash's life, like the collection of hotel keys he kept when he was on tour. There were letters that Johnny Cash wrote to his first wife, Vivian, before they were married, and his "One Piece at a Time" car was also on display. There was a modern stage and a large television, on which we watched a few short films, one which included home movie footage that has never been seen by the public before now. Then Mark Alan Cash, Johnny's nephew, came on stage to tell stories about his uncle and to sing songs. He took requests from the audience, and he interacted with everyone who was there; he was a lot of fun. Rachel Dawson also performed a couple of songs (what a voice!). After the program was over, Mark Alan and Rachel spent more than an hour talking to us and sharing stories about the museum and the farm. They also gave us a bag of tee shirts. It was wonderful.
Then we went to the Hideaway Farm where we were treated to a tour by the owners, Brian and Sally Oxley. We were impressed by the restoration efforts in the pre-Civil War era parts of the farmhouse, and it was fun to see the bedroom, kitchen, living room, and study that the legend and his wife once shared. Our sons were allowed to try on one of Johnny's long, black coats, and we saw many of the personal items that were owned by the Cash family. We had interesting conversations with the owners as we toured the farm, which included the barn and event venue. It was a meaningful way to spend a day, and it was more than worth the time it took to drive there and the admission price we paid to see everything. Most museums try to channel their guests through a chute at the end of the exhibit, but here, we were invited to stay, to share stories with people who knew Cash, and to listen to the birds from the front porch swing. This place still moves with the breath and heartbeat of the legend who lived here, and when you are there, it feels as if he is just in the next room, waiting...
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