Beyond the honky tonks, barbeque joints, and bachelorette parties there is much more to Music City’s rich history than meets the eye. We’ve rounded up some fascinating facts about our beloved city that may surprise you. (But remember, as with all great cities some historic tales are fact and some are long-told fiction. We did our best to check our work, but we can’t promise a few wives’ tales didn’t sneak in along the way.)
The Parthenon
If you’ve ever stepped foot in Centennial Park, you have undoubtedly noticed a piece of ancient Greece serving as the park’s centerpiece. With its stunning architecture and storied history, The Parthenon appeals to tourists and locals alike. One such local is Sylvia Rapoport, former conservancy president of 12 years and current capital campaign director and executive gala chair.
“As a home-grown gal, I’ve always believed that the Parthenon was the defining piece of architecture for this community. As a child, the Parthenon helped me understand that the world was a bigger, bolder, and more interesting world than my little life on Tyne Boulevard. The Parthenon is proof that Nashville has always been an aspirational city. It was true then, and it is certainly true today. For me, it is the special sauce that makes this community distinctive and exciting,” says Rapoport.
Curious how this ode to Athens ended up in Nashville? Check out the facts behind our very own Parthenon and all that it offers.
- Nashville’s Parthenon is the world’s only exact size and detail replica of the original temple in Athens, Greece.
- It was originally built to be a temporary fixture when Tennessee celebrated its 100th year of statehood with the Tennessee Centennial Exposition.
- The idea for it derived from Nashville’s nickname, “Athens of the South.”
- In 1920, as a result of tremendous admiration, the city of Nashville decided to make the Parthenon a permanent structure and rebuild it using proper materials that would withstand the test of time.
- The Parthenon reopened to the public as a city museum on May 20, 1931.
- Although the inside of the Parthenon was not originally designed to be a replica, the permanent structure as we know it today is a complete replica including the infamous 42-foot statue of Athena, which stands inside.
- The interior is divided into two rooms: the east room called the Naos, and the west room called the Treasury.
- The Parthenon isn’t just a stunning backdrop for a day at Centennial Park: it also serves as an art museum hosting a variety of changing exhibitions in its galleries.
- From Nashvillians to out-of-towners, 300,000 people visit the Parthenon each year.
Centennial Park also plays host to one of Nashville’s most cherished annual fundraisers, the Conservancy Gala, which has been supporting the park’s programs since 2010.
“Conservancy Gala supports our partnership with Metro Parks to help preserve and activate two of Nashville’s crown jewels, the Parthenon and Centennial Park. Financial support for the gala helps to maintain the park’s beauty, care for the Parthenon, and ensures continued success for inclusive and accessible community programs,” Rapoport explains.
This year’s gala will be the last. Conservancy Gala Finale: The Sky’s the Limit will be held November 5 and promises to end the era with a bang. “We strive for an evening that is unique, stylish, sparkling, and sophisticated,” says Rapoport.
Music City Roots
If you think the name Music City came solely from Nashville’s colossal country music scene, think again. This notorious nickname was actually originally credited to the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Nashville’s Fisk University. The first choral ensemble was organized in 1871 and has been introducing and sustaining the tradition of the Negro spiritual ever since by traveling the world singing sacred songs. Legend has it that when Queen Victoria traveled to hear their tour, she was so impressed that she proclaimed that the singers must be from a ‘city of music.’ And the rest is (Music City) history.
Bill Preston / The Tennessean
Bill Preston / The Tennessean Printers Alley, a row of neon-lit nightclubs in a cracked-concrete alley not far from the Cumberland River waterfront, was hopping just like the old days on May 15, 1965, a Saturday night, despite a crackdown on liquor-by-the-drink sales. Printers Alley, a row of neon-lit nightclubs in a cracked-concrete alley not far from the Cumberland River waterfront, was hopping on a Saturday night May 15, 1965, just like the old days despite a crackdown on liquor by the drink sales.
Speaking' Easy
Before it was the off-Broadway bar-lined hotspot it is today, downtown’s Printers Alley was (you guessed it) the hub of Nashville’s printing industry. But nightlife is nothing new to this storied strip of town. During Prohibition, many businesses on the street hosted underground bars, and after it was repealed, the alley continued to be a thriving locale paving the way for the entertainment district as we know it today.
A Cup of Piping Hot Cheekwood History
There is plenty to discover throughout Cheekwood Estate and Gardens’ 55-acre botanical garden and art museum. Originally built as the home of Leslie and Mabel Cheek, the family’s impact is apparent throughout these storied grounds. But the Cheek family’s reach expands beyond the estate into an unexpected business, Maxwell Coffee House. The couple invested in the brand which was actually created by the Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, created by the cousin of Leslie Sr.’s father. What started as a local business turned into a nationwide success and is even said to have gained attention from President Theodore Roosevelt who proclaimed that it was “good to the last drop.”
Going Goo Goo
A Nashville staple dating back to 1912, the Goo Goo Cluster was America’s very first combination candy bar. The invention of this tasty treat marked the first time that a candy bar ever consisted of more than one principal ingredient.
Historic Hotel
The Hermitage Hotel isn’t just Nashville’s first $1 million hotel, first five-star hotel in Tennessee, and a gorgeous place to stay; it’s an integral piece of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Since opening in 1910, the Hermitage Hotel, situated just one block from the state Capitol, served as a political hub. With Tennessee as the deciding state in ratifying the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, the Hermitage Hotel served as a headquarters for Pro-Suffrage groups. Leading up to the final vote, the hotel was packed with both Pro and Anti-Suffrage campaigners relentlessly debating, earning it the nickname “The Third House.”
Holy Ground
Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church is one of the few examples of Egyptian Revival architecture in the country.
No, It’s Not Demon-brune
Perhaps the easiest way to separate locals and tourists is by their pronunciation of Demonbreun Street. But if you’re looking to enlighten your out-of-town pals beyond the name itself, get to know the man behind this notable piece of Music City history. The road is named after a French-Canadian fur trader named Timothy Demonbreun, who was one of the very first settlers of the Nashville area.
A Hunk, a Hunk of Nashville Love
Memphis may be first to come to mind when thinking of Tennessee and Elvis Presley, but The King left his mark on Nashville’s Music Row as well. Elvis recorded at the historic RCA Studio B where he created a multitude of musical masterpieces.
Pick Your Fixins
The beloved meat-and-three is a Southern staple for good reason, and Nashville is home to some of the best in the business. Debate rages on over where exactly this classic home- cooked concept first originated, but according to Eater.com, Nashville represented one of the earliest known meat-and-threes: Hap Townes Restaurant. Today, eateries among the likes of Arnold’s Country Kitchen, MacHenry’s Meat & Three, and more are pillars of the meat-and-three community. Just mind your menu manners: To start, select one meat option from the daily menu, then pick three (or more!) scrumptious sides to create your perfect plate of traditional Southern cuisine.
Meet The Frists
Many have experienced the stunning art within Frist Art Museum, but did you know it was Patricia (Trisha) Frist’s passion for art and collecting that led to the opening of the city’s first large contemporary art museum (formerly the downtown post office)? In addition to being a long-time Nashville philanthropist and a driving force behind the founding of Frist Art Museum, she also worked alongside her husband, Thomas Frist Jr., and her father-in-law to found HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital chain in the country.
Art At Home
Nashville is known for hundreds of murals popping up around town but did you know you can bring art home with you? Anyone with a library card can check out one of sixty original artworks created by local artists through the Metro Arts Lending Library.
The Beginning of a Monumental Movement
On Feb. 13, 1960, Nashville’s downtown Woolworth building made history as a group of African American students sat down for what would be the first ever demonstration to desegregate Nashville lunch counters. The Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins went on to inspire other peaceful protests throughout the South and were instrumental to the Civil Rights movement. And this September with the opening of the new Woolworth Theatre in that famed space, this historic site will be honored with a host of inclusive live performances.
Rhythmic Roads
Music Row has seen some of the biggest and most talented country stars come to record in its famed studios, so what famous faces got streets named after them? Surprisingly, only two made the cut. Chet Atkins (aka Mr. Guitar) and Roy Acuff both served as key contributors to the country music genre, thus earning them the streets Chet Atkins Place and Roy Acuff Place, respectively.
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Why not take in some music history in Nashville and tour the historic Ryman Auditorium?
Just for fun: How many music venues call Music City home?
Answer: 180