Willie Nelson Museum

Lonely Planet review

Willie Nelson Museum . Call it the everything-but-Willie-Nelson's-used-toothbrush museum. This squat brick building holds the mother load of the Redheaded Stranger's memorabilia, much of it bought at auction when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seized the singer's ranch and studio in the early 90s due to 16.7 million dollars of unpaid taxes. There are Nelson portraits, Nelson bronze busts, Nelson's Native American art collection, Nelson guitars and Nelson's old Billboard Music Awards, in addition to memorabilia from the singer's industry friends like Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner and Faron Young. Famous for penning songs like 'Crazy' and 'On the Road Again,' Nelson lived in Nashville until his house burned down in 1970, at which point he moved to Austin, Texas.

There, he founded the 'outlaw country' genre, a heady, raw, rock 'n' roll-infused sound that refused to conform to the cleaner, softer Nashville standards of the day. Known for his long braids, bandanas and rebellious demeanor, Nelson has not softened with age. Now well into his 70s, he promotes cleaner-burning 'BioWillie' biofuel and acts as a co-chair of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.