Is the Hatch Show Print Tour in Nashville Worth It?
You’ve seen their posters. Bold colors, chunky block letters, that unmistakable graphic style of a vintage concert bill. You may not know the name, but you’ve probably seen Hatch Show Print’s work.
Every time we’re in Nashville, I have to stop in at Hatch Show Print. I love their posters, especially the older out-of-print ones, and I almost always leave with something.
So when I found out there was a behind-the-scenes tour, I booked it immediately.
This Hatch Show Print Behind the Scenes tour walks you through the full history of the print shop, shows you how these iconic letterpress posters are actually made, and lets you print your own poster to take home.
In this post, I’ll cover exactly what the tour experience is like, what I loved about it, practical tips for booking, and whether I think it’s worth your time. Spoiler: it is.
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What is Hatch Show Print?
Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America. They’ve been printing posters since 1879, and they’re still at it today, using the same hand-carved wooden blocks and oil-based inks they always have.
The shop is located inside the Country Music Hall of Fame, so some people assume it’s strictly a country music thing. It’s really not.
Yes, they’ve printed for Elvis, the Grand Ole Opry, and just about every country legend you can think of. But they’ve also done work for rock artists, circuses, boxing matches, and vaudeville shows. If it needed a poster, Hatch probably printed it.
The retail shop is open to the public and it’s worth a stop even if you don’t do the tour. One whole wall is lined with prints for sale, numbered so you can find them in the shelves below.
You’ll find bins of older discontinued prints to dig through, plus smaller keepsake items made from the different designs, stationery, and other things that anyone into graphic design or vintage band posters will want to dig through.
It’s not a huge shop, but there is a lot to look at. We’ve picked up a couple of prints over the years, including an Elvis one that I love.
The smaller prints are surprisingly affordable, and I think a gallery wall of nothing but Hatch Show Print posters from bands you love would be really cool.
HATCH SHOW PRINT BEHIND THE SCENES
Nashville Hatch Show Guided Letterpress Tour with Souvenir Poster
- Price: Starting at $23 per person
- Duration: 1 hour – 1.5 hours
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars ⭐️
- Includes: Printed souvenir poster
How to Book the Hatch Show Print Tour
You can book the Hatch Show Print tour directly through the Hatch Show Print website, or through Viator or Get Your Guide. As of this writing, tickets are $23 per adult.
I prefer booking through Viator or Get Your Guide for one big reason: flexibility. Both platforms offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before your tour. Plans change when you travel, and it’s nice to have that cushion without any hassle.
When you book through Viator or Get Your Guide, you’ll get a confirmation email after booking, and that’s when you’ll select your time slot.
I booked a couple of weeks out and had no trouble getting my preferred time. I went with the earliest tour of the day, around 10 a.m., which I’d recommend if you’re planning to fit it in before other activities.
What to Expect on the Behind the Scenes Tour
Checking In
The tour meets in the Jerry and Ernie Williams Grand Lobby, right outside the Hatch Show Print store inside the Country Music Hall of Fame.
I got there about 15 minutes early so I could do a quick browse through the gift shop first. About five minutes before start time I found the check-in sign in the lobby where our guide was waiting.
The Workshop
Once everyone is checked in your guide will lead you through the gift shop and into a workshop in the back. The walls are basically wallpapered with prints from every era, every genre, and every kind of event you can imagine.
You get to sit at the actual printing tables that were used in the shop for years before being moved back here.
Two guides share the storytelling, and they’re really good at it. They walk you through the full history of Hatch Show Print, starting with its founding in 1879, sharing samples of the work along the way.
It was amazing to me that the shop has been running continuously for almost 150 years, and that some of the wooden blocks they still use today were carved over 70 years ago.
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Printing Your Souvenir Poster
At the end of the workroom presentation, you’ll make your own block print to take home. You don’t get to pick the design or customize anything about it. That was a little disappointing, but it was still fun to do.
While everyone checks out the prints that wallpaper the room, the guides will call you back to the press one or two at a time. You get to roll the ink, place down your paper, and run it through the press.
The Working Press
After the workshop, your guide takes you out to a hallway that runs along the front of the actual working shop. It’s floor to ceiling glass, so you can see everything that’s happening inside.
Having just spent an hour learning the history and doing the work yourself, watching the pros actually working is really cool. It’s hard to believe that they are using the same presses, some of which are decades old.
Along the back wall are giant stacks of hand-carved wooden blocks from past projects. Seeing them lined up really drives home how long Hatch Show Print has been producing block prints.
One thing to know: photos and video are both off limits in this area. I hated not to be able to take pics of the presses in action, but it makes sense. The guide explained that they’re running prints that haven’t been released yet and they don’t want current client work showing up on social media before the client gets it.
Hint: Tour times will sell out! Book your Nashville Hatch Show Print Guided Letterpress Tour now for a morning time slot. Confirm your time with the print shop after ordering your ticket.
Is the Hatch Show Print Tour Worth It?
Short answer: Yes!
The tour runs about an hour and a half and it’s worth every minute. As a design enthusiast and a lover of all things vintage, I was completely in my happy place.
But I really think this tour has a wider appeal than many people might give it credit for. I’m sure music fans will love seeing how concert posters used to be made and I can see how it could be a little nostalgic for older visitors who will remember when block printing was everywhere.
When our youngest son was 19 we found some vintage block printing letters in a shop in Ocean Springs, MS. Jackson was so confused about why they were all backwards. I had to explain the process to him and we played around spelling out some words in the bin. After that experience, I think this tour would also be fun for the generations who have been raised in a completely digital world.
Would I do it again? Probably not on my own. The information is going to be the same. But if Jackson wanted to see it or if I had a friend visiting Nashville who hadn’t been, I’d take them in a heartbeat.
Ready to Book the Hatch Show Print Tour?
If you’re planning a trip to Nashville, put this one on the list. It’s a genuinely cool way to spend a morning, and you’ll leave with a better appreciation for a craft that’s been part of Music City’s story for almost 150 years.
Book your spot through Viator or Get Your Guide and confirm your tour time after booking. I’d grab a morning slot if you can get one.
