The Allman Brothers Band Museum facts for kids
The Allman Brothers Band Museum, also known as The Big House, is a special museum in Macon, Georgia, United States. It was once the home of the famous rock band, The Allman Brothers Band. From 1970 to 1973, the band members, their families, and friends lived here. Today, The Big House is an exciting museum. It helps people learn about and remember the history of The Allman Brothers Band. It opened its doors in November 2009.
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A Home for Music History
In 1970, a woman named Linda Oakley rented The Big House. She was the wife of Berry Oakley, who played bass in The Allman Brothers Band. The rent was $225 a month. This big house was a great spot because it was close to Capricorn Records. That was the recording studio where the band made their music.
The band members also ate at a nearby place called H&H Restaurant. Mama Louise, who ran the restaurant, often fed them even when they didn't have money.
Who Lived There?
The Big House is quite large, with 18 rooms and about 4,440 square feet. Many people lived there at first. These included Berry Oakley, his wife Linda, and their daughter Brittany. Berry's sister, Candy Oakley, also lived there.
Duane Allman, who played guitar, lived there with his wife Donna and their daughter Galadrielle. Gregg Allman, the singer and keyboard player, also called it home.
Songs Born at The Big House
Many famous songs by The Allman Brothers Band were created right inside The Big House.
- Dickey Betts, another guitarist, wrote "Blue Sky" in the living room.
- He also wrote "Ramblin' Man" in the kitchen.
- Gregg Allman wrote several songs while living there, including "Please Call Home," "Ain't Wastin' Time No More," "Leave My Blues at Home," and "Midnight Rider".
After some difficult times for the band, the members moved out. In January 1973, Linda Oakley left The Big House.
Becoming a Museum
Years later, in the summer of 1993, Kirk and Kristen West bought the house. They hoped to turn it into a bed and breakfast. However, the house needed a lot of repairs. So, they decided to create The Big House Foundation. This non-profit group worked to transform the house into an interactive museum.
What You Can See Today
Today, The Big House is home to the largest collection of items from The Allman Brothers Band. When you visit, you can see many cool things. These include instruments, clothing, photos, and other special items that belonged to the band members. It's like stepping back in time to see how they lived and made their music. You can even see Butch Trucks' drum case on display!
See also
- List of music museums
