In 1779, a team of Overmountain Men named James Robertson and John Donelson founded a city near Cumberland settlement next to the Cumberland River near Fort Nashborough, named after Francis Nash, after whom this city got its name – Nashville. The port on the Cumberland River led to the speedy growth of the new city of Nashville. The housing development in the 18th and 19th centuries gave rise to educational and other services. Today, it is the capital and the most populated city in the state of Tennessee, United States. The city has also gained several nicknames like ‘Music City’, ‘Athens of the South’, and ‘Nash Vegas’. Here are a few places to visit in Nashville for the examples of architectural development in this Music City.
1. Ryman Auditorium | Places to visit in Nashville
Built by Thomas Ryman in 1892 as a permanent location for tent revival-style gospel meetings, the Ryman auditorium today is known as the ‘Mother Church of Country Music’. The 2,362-seat live-performance auditorium is constructed in the Gothic Revival style of architecture as a load-bearing brick structure embellished with limestone and pointed arch windows. This soul of Nashville is also famously known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry.
2. Vanderbilt University
Built in 1873, Vanderbilt University is a private research university on a 330-acre land in Nashville and is famous for its large number of trees and green space. It was also designated as a national arboretum. The buildings on the campus are designed in various styles as per the era it was constructed in.
3. Customs House | Places to visit in Nashville
Another example displaying the rich history of Nashville is the Customs House designed by architect William Appleton in Victorian Gothic style architecture, featuring lancet windows and triple-arched entrance on the ornate stone facade. Originally served as a post office as well as offices for Treasury and Justice Departments, it is now private office space.
4. AT&T Building
Famously known as the ‘Batman Building’, the AT&T building is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee standing at 188 meters. The Batman building has earned this nickname due to its distinctive design and dark color, resembling the cowl of the character – Batman.
5. Union Station Hotel | Places to visit in Nashville
In a city rich in history, the iconic Union Railroad station stands proudly as a hotel today. It served as a railway station from 1900 and due to the decline in passenger rail service in the nation, discontinued its services by 1975. This Victorian Romanesque Revival style building reopened as a hotel in 1986 and the renovated structure features Italian marble floors, wrought iron accents, and a stained glass lobby.
6. Fort Negley Park
Fort Negley was the largest inland fort in the United States during the war, built after the capture of Nashville. The star-shaped fortification was constructed of a limestone block atop St. Cloud Hill. The restorations of the fort and the site, which turned into multi-use recreation facilities and green space, attracts users to experience the historical place.
7. Cheekwood Botanical Garden
The 55-acre botanical garden is a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. This Japanese-style landscape garden includes ponds, small hills, fountains, and an art museum in addition to various plants.
8. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage | Places to visit in Nashville
The Hermitage was the plantation and house of the seventeenth president of the United States, Andrew Jackson. When Jackson and his wife chose this as a site, they commissioned to build a Federal-style building with bricks. But after a fire broke out in the house and caused severe damage, a new building was built in Greek Revival style (current). Of the 400 ha plantation, 200 ha was only for producing cotton, whereas the rest of the land was used to produce other crops and to breed and train the racehorses. The tomb of Jackson and his wife are also located in the Hermitage garden, whereas the mansion now serves as a museum.
9. Parthenon
A full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, the Parthenon in Nashville was built in 1897 as a part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in Centennial Park. Nashville is nicknamed ‘Athens of the South’ due to its dedication to higher studies, just like Athens in Greece was recognized as the center of learning. This influenced architect William Crawford Smith to create a replica of The Parthenon. Parthenon in Nashville is now a museum where the statue of Athena Parthenos and other artworks are displayed.
10. John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge | Places to visit in Nashville
Known as the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge is a truss bridge that spans 960 meters over the Cumberland River. The bridge has four steel trusses and two reinforced concrete trusses. The 11-meter wide bridge has lanes for bicycles and seatings. The bridge is widely known as Nashville’s iconic landmark.
