Hatch Show Print

Hatch Show Print is one of those Nashville experiences that flies under the radar for families but delivers a genuinely memorable activity, especially for creative and artsy kids. Operating since 1879, it is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America, and it has printed posters for everyone from Hank Williams to Jack White. The current shop is located inside the Country Music Hall of Fame complex in downtown Nashville, making it easy to pair with a museum visit.

The main draw for families is the guided print experience tour. This is not a look-but-don't-touch situation. During the hour-long tour, a printer walks your group through the history of the shop, explains the letterpress printing process, and then — here is the good part — every person in the group gets to operate a vintage press and print their own poster.

Kids physically pull the lever, hear the press clunk, and peel back the paper to reveal a fresh print. The poster is yours to keep, and watching the satisfaction on a kid's face when they see what they made is worth every penny of the tour price.

The shop itself is visually overwhelming in the best way. Every surface is covered with colorful posters spanning decades of American music and entertainment. The wooden type blocks, some over 100 years old, are organized in drawers and shelves throughout the workspace.

The massive presses are mechanical works of art on their own. Even without the tour, just walking through the retail shop and watching the printers work through the interior windows is engaging.

This experience works best for kids roughly 8 and older who have the hand strength to operate the press lever and the patience for the history portion of the tour. Younger kids can technically attend, but they may struggle with the physical press operation and the explanation segments. For families with mixed ages, one parent could take the older kids on the tour while the other browses the retail shop with the younger ones.

The retail shop is free to enter and has original letterpress posters starting at about $15. These are real prints made on the actual presses, not reproductions. They make genuinely unique Nashville souvenirs that are more meaningful than another music note keychain. The shop also sells letterpress greeting cards, prints, and custom-designed merchandise.

Practically, the print experience tours run at scheduled times and sell out, especially on weekends. Book at least a week in advance through their website. The tours accommodate about 15 people and last approximately one hour. The space is not large, so strollers are difficult to maneuver. There are no food services in the shop, but you are steps away from downtown restaurants.

The ideal Nashville family itinerary pairs Hatch Show Print with the Country Music Hall of Fame in the morning, lunch at Puckett's across the street, and a walk down Broadway to see the honky tonks (which are kid-friendly during daytime hours). Hatch Show Print adds an artistic, hands-on element to what could otherwise be a passive sightseeing day.