Explore the Great American Songbook Archives: Free Tours and Virtual Visit This Fall & Spring

The Great American Songbook Foundation is opening the doors to history—literally and virtually—by inviting the public to experience its Songbook Library & Archives through a series of rare tours this fall and spring. Music enthusiasts, researchers, and anyone curious about the golden era of American popular music will have the opportunity to explore one of the nation’s most significant collections of cultural treasures.

Fresh off a spotlight feature on CBS Sunday Morning with Songbook Foundation Founder Michael Feinstein, the Songbook Library & Archives is home to more than 500,000 historical items that chronicle the lives and legacies of America’s greatest musical talents. Nestled near Carmel’s City Center, the facility safeguards recordings, musical arrangements, stage costumes, images, personal papers, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia connected to legendary composers, lyricists, and performers. While the Archives usually remain closed to the public, this new series of events offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain.

The series kicks off on Tuesday, September 16, with a Virtual Visit at 6 p.m., guided by the Foundation’s Director of Library & Archives. Participants tuning in online will get an exclusive look at rarely seen artifacts while learning the stories behind them.

For those eager to experience the collection in person, limited-capacity tours will be offered throughout the year. Two fall tours are scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, October 25, at 10 a.m. The program continues in the spring with three additional tours on Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m.; Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m.; and Wednesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. Each group tour is capped at just 20 participants, ensuring an intimate experience with history.

Tour highlights may include show-stopping pieces such as Ella Fitzgerald’s stage costumes, a near-EGOT collection of awards including an Emmy, GRAMMY, and multiple Oscars, original Broadway scripts for The Music Man, and musical arrangements crafted for icons like Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., and Rosemary Clooney. Visitors may also encounter materials tied to cultural giants such as Leonard Bernstein, Ginger Rogers, Doris Day, Mamie Eisenhower, and even Walt Disney.

Registration is required for both virtual and in-person tours. The Virtual Visit is available at TheSongbook.org/VirtualArchivesVisit, and in-person tours can be reserved at TheSongbook.org/ArchivesTours.

These special programs are made possible through the generosity of the Songbook Foundation’s Preservation Partners, including Diane and John Abrams, Maureen Charles, Michael Charles, and Dr. Larry Weeda Jr., whose support ensures that this timeless music continues to inspire future generations.

Photo: Emily Rapoza, director of the Great American Songbook Foundation’s Songbook Library & Archives, displays Academy Award statuettes and other artifacts to a touring student group. (photo courtesy the Great American Songbook Foundation)