From country music icons to art galleries to Presidential homes, Nashville can keep history, art, and nature lovers busy for days.
No trip to Nashville should be without a stop at The Country Music Hall of Fame. Located in the heart of downtown, this museum highlights country and western music's illustrious history. Here visitors can experience multimedia presentations, admire famous stars' instruments, clothes, and even cars, and browse through historical documents and artifacts. There's even a recording studio inside where people can record their own records. Tons of fun events like fiddle demonstrations, autograph signings, and songwriting seminars occur virtually every day at the museum. Operating hours range from 9am to 5pm seven days a week, so there's no excuse not to spend an hour or two at one of Nashville's coolest attractions.
Keep your admission ticket to the Hall of Fame and you'll receive two dollars off admission at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry. The Opry stage has for decades been the place to showcase country music's finest talent, both new and old. Performances are broadcast weekly over the radio and internet, but nothing beats seeing a concert here in person. If you come to town over the weekend, consider checking out one of the three shows spread out over Friday and Saturday nights. Reserve your ticket in advance if possible, although getting seats the same day generally isn't a problem.
Another staple in the world of country music's most prestigious sites is none other than the Ryman Auditorium. Just a few blocks from the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman was built in 1892 as a church, not a concert hall. However, the building became the temporary home of the Opry in 1943 and stayed that way until the late 1970's when the Opry moved to its current home. The magnificent building was left vacant for 20 years, until it was thankfully restored as a premier music venue in 1994. In 2003, the Ryman was named one of the "Top Ten Best Live Music Venues" in the U.S. Recent sellouts have included Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr., Annie Lenox and Coldplay.
Nashville, along with hosting some of the most historical musical sites in the country, also features numerous art museums and exhibits. The Frist Center for Visual Arts, founded by the family of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, serves as one of the most exclusive art galleries in the South. The building itself served as the main post office for decades during the 20th century. Now, a history of the structure is a permanent exhibit. The Frist Center features the work of numerous local, national, and international artists, including the likes of Vincent Van Gogh. There's always something neat and different to see while there so no matter when you visit, you'll enjoy beautiful and interesting art.
Located on the north side of downtown, the Tennessee State Museum delights local and visiting history buffs alike. Documenting the history of both Tennessee and the United States, this museum displays everything from furniture to quilts to guns. Tennessee heroes such as Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, and Alvin C. York are all honored in some form or fashion at the Tennessee State Museum. One of the more unique features of the museum must be the Military History branch, which chronicles America's involvement in wars dating from the Spanish American War to the Second World War. Open every day but Monday, this museum can't be missed if you love exploring history and heritage.
For a wonderful blend of nature and art, visit Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. Formally the estate of the Cheek family, the grounds include a mansion (with an art gallery inside), a color garden, an herb garden, a Japanese garden, a perennial garden, and a wildflower garden among other incredible areas. The amount of plant species is almost overwhelming. Inside the museum, continuous exhibits include porcelain and silver collections. Traveling collections can be found here as well. And every year, Cheekwood features the lovely "Trees of Christmas", which is a unique and quaint little display of Christmas trees. Again, don't try to visit here on Mondays as the whole museum is closed. Do come after 3pm any other day. Admission falls to half price.
One of the most distinctive historical sites in Nashville has to be the Parthenon. Sound familiar? That's because this massive building serves as an exact replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Inside, visitors will find a statue of the goddess Athena, which stands at a gigantic 41 feet 10 inches tall making it the largest piece of indoor sculpture in the Western world. A six-foot statue of the goddess, Nike rests in Athena's hand. The entire structure is impressive to say the least. Venture downstairs and you'll get to witness permanent exhibits from the likes of Winslow Homer and William Merritt Chase. Sometimes you'll find traveling collections as well. Just don't come on a Monday because this museum is closed as well.
The seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, called Nashville home for most of his life. His estate, the Hermitage, rivals the homes of other Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The home was built in 1819, destroyed by a fire in 1834 and then rebuilt in 1837. Today's version is a virtual replica of the 1800's version, even down to the paint colors. Almost all of the house's furnishing existed while Jackson resided there, and six of the rooms even have the original wallpaper. Adults and children alike will love exploring and touring the home and surrounding grounds. In one of the gardens, Jackson and his wife, Rachel lay buried. The home offers guided and audio tours and is open seven days a week.
Nashville has so much to offer that we've only touched the surface here. Civil War battles sites, plantations, and famous people's homes spread throughout the city and the surrounding areas. History, art and architecture greet you at every step in this charming Southern town. Country music of course reigns supreme here, and plenty of historic sites relating to the music world exist in Nashville. However, with as much history that resides in Nashville, the city could keep any history lovers of all kinds busy for days on end.
