Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music Opens at Monmouth University

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music opened on June 13, 2026 at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The opening ceremony preceded the second night of the two-day “Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us” concert series held June 4-5 in the 4,100-seat OceanFirst Bank Center.

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Springsteen’s career is closely tied to New Jersey, noted in his 1975 song “Thunder Road.” The center expands the former Bruce Springsteen Archives, preserving his collection while placing it in a broader American music narrative. Participants include Springsteen, director Bob Santelli, President Patrick F. Leahy, CookFox Architects, Little Steven’s Disciples of Souls, and guest artists Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark Jr., Public Enemy, and Dion.

Rolling Stone

The building, designed by CookFox Architects, is reported as 30,000 sq ft (NY Times) and 32,000 sq ft (NJ.com), costing $50 million. It houses research archives, exhibition galleries, a performance theater, and a documentary by Thom Zimny on Springsteen’s cultural influence.

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The center serves as a research hub, exhibition space, and venue for concerts, lectures and workshops, with interactive displays tracing American music across genres. Officials expect it to attract scholars, students and tourists, making Monmouth a national music-history destination.

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Springsteen said center is in New Jersey because he lives there, and Santelli noted Elvis Presley’s impact on rock-and-roll and culture. Leahy said the project matches a national museum, adding Monmouth has realized that vision.

New York Times

Springsteen noted the program omitted Motown, indicating a genre gap. Reviewers also pointed out the limited representation of his own catalog, with only one original song performed.

Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Public Enemy and more at ‘Music America,’ Night 2 (REVIEW, PHOTOS, VIDEOS, SETLIST)

Springsteen performed duets with Sheryl Crow on “I Shall Be Released” and with Gary Clark Jr. on “Further Up the Road.” He joked about the difficulty of following Public Enemy’s set and closed with a solo “Land of Hope and Dreams.” A jam on “Raise Your Hand” featured guest artists.

Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Public Enemy and more at ‘Music America,’ Night 2 (REVIEW, PHOTOS, VIDEOS, SETLIST)

Sources differ on the center’s size, citing 30,000 sq ft versus 32,000 sq ft; other program details remain unspecified.

New York Times

• “It’s in New Jersey because I’m from here — I live here,” — Bruce Springsteen, singer-songwriter

New York Times

• “Elvis Presley creates a sound and a moment that will forever change not only rock and roll history, because there wasn’t any yet,” — Bob Santelli, director

Rolling Stone

• “What Washington, D.C., could do — that is, build an institution, place it right there on the Mall in Washington, dedicated to the preservation and celebration of American music in all of its forms — what they could do in D.C., we just did, right here on the campus of Monmouth University.” — Patrick F. Leahy, university president

Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Public Enemy and more at ‘Music America,’ Night 2 (REVIEW, PHOTOS, VIDEOS, SETLIST)

• “Man, you can’t come on after Public Enemy,” — Bruce Springsteen, onstage comment

Rolling Stone

The center will host further concerts, lectures, workshops, and film screenings throughout 2026 and beyond, expanding its national role.

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