Records

#WhatLiftsYou Wings Mural

302 Eleventh Avenue South, Nashville TN 37203

Kelsey Montague's (1985-) What Lifts You campaign began in 2015, touching places ranging from Melbourne to Basel to New York City. The Nashville mural, finished in 2017, is located on the side of the Mediterranean restaurant Taziki's as of early 2019. Standing twenty-three feet high, Montague used sixty paint pens to complete the wings. The mural has served as one of the most popular photo ops in the Gulch. Seeing Instagram as "the democratization of art," Montague urges those photographed to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #WhatLiftsYou along with what inspires them.

A Sevier Returns to Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

A Window to the Past, Log Cabins at Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)

2 Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203

Founded in 1914, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) is an organization that works with performing rights, which is a part of copyright law that requires composers, lyricists and/or publishers to be paid when their music is played. ASCAP is the only performing rights organization of its kind to be run by members themselves: songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Nashville branch opened in 1965 in Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Victor Studio A building. In 1968, ASCAP entered their still-current lease with Owen Bradley (1915-1998) and Chet Atkins (1924-2001). Replacing the original building, Tom Bulla designed the standing building to have a New York City feel in 1992.

Aaittafama 08

A photograph of the excavation of Structure 1 showing the hearth (center) and surrounding postholes and pits.

Aaittafama 09

A fragment of a hoe blade showing polish from use. This hoe was likely used for agricultural work such as planting corn in fields along the Little Harpeth River.

Aaittafama 10

A photograph of the stone stains (circular stains) left from the palisade posts.

Aaittafama' Archaeological Park

6410 Hillsboro Pike

Aaittafama' is located at the intersection of Hillsboro Road and Old Hickory Boulevard on the border between Davidson and Williamson Counties. At one time the site was called Kellytown, after the Kelly family who were long-time owners of the property. Aaittafama was the site of a 15th century fortified Mississippian village. In 1972, the site was recorded by the Tennessee Division of Archaeology (TDOA) after the discovery of possible Indigenous graves. In 1999, part of the site was excavated by TDOA and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) archaeologists ahead of construction on Hillsboro Road, which revealed an extensive prehistoric village surrounded by a palisade. In 2014, the Metro Nashville Parks Department acquired seven acres at the north end of the site with the intention of turning it into an archaeological park. As of 2025, the site has not yet been developed.

Acme Feed and Seed

101 Broadway Nashville, TN 37201

Designed by J.R. Whitemore, this 1890s Italianate-style building housed various commercial businesses including the Cummins Brothers Company and Ford Flour Company from 1943-1990s. Wholesale goods and flour sales dominated Nashville's economy at the turn of the century. The building is best known for the agricultural store Acme Feed and Hatchery, later re-named Acme Farm Supply, which was housed in the building from the 1940s until 1999. In 2015, the building reopened as a restaurant and bar, and most of the original construction remains intact despite various tenants over time. Featuring three unique floors and a roof-top bar, the restaurant is one of Downtown's most well known honky-tonks as of early 2019. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Adolpho A. Birch

946 Jefferson St Nashville, TN 37208

Born in 1932, Adolpho A. Birch (1932-2011) was the first African American chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. A graduate of Howard University Law School, he moved to Nashville in 1956 and opened a private practice. His office was located near 10th Ave. North. He represented students arrested during Civil Rights protests in the early 1960s. He later became the first African American Assistant District Attorney in Davidson County. In 1978, he presided as a District Criminal Court—a position he held until 1987. After three years on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, he was elected to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1990. While on the bench, Birch served as Chief Justice three times. When he retired in 2006, the Davidson County Criminal Court building was named in his honor.

African American Labor at Fort Negley

Agriculture Complex

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

In 1912, Tennessee State University’s agricultural resources consisted of two barns and several farmhouses. A large dairy barn was constructed by students in 1915. In 1923, a farm building with a silo was constructed and used as headquarters for the University’s farm operations. A second dairy barn, called simply "The Barn," was erected in 1937, using Works Progress Administration funds. “The Barn” housed agricultural programs until 1986, when it was renovated and used to house research laboratories for the Cooperative Agricultural Research Program. In 1954, Lawson Hall was constructed to house Agricultural Sciences. Today, Lawson Hall houses the Agricultural Department and a NASA Lab. The James E. Farrell and Fred E. Westbrook Agricultural Research and Extension Complex—as “The Barn” was renamed in 2000—houses the Cooperative Agricultural Research Program and the Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research.

Alkebu-Lan Images

2721 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208

Alkebu-Lan Images was established in 1986 by Joseph (Yusef) Harris (1955-2022). The purchase was supported by the Metro Development and Housing Agency. The bookstore is housed in a former gas station. Harris created the bookstore to promote an appreciation of African culture and history. It sells books, art, jewelry, and apparel. In 2020, Harris and his son, Jordan Harris purchased a second location at 1410 Buchanan St. As of 2024, the property is being used for other ventures.

American Baptist College

1800 Baptist World Center Dr Nashville, TN 37207 United States

Founded through the joint efforts of the National Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention, American Baptist Theological Seminary opened for enrollment on September 14, 1924. The first building, Griggs Hall, was built in 1923. The school was created to train African American ministers for the Baptist denomination. In 1971, the school became an accredited four-year Bible college, and its name was changed to American Baptist College. During the 1960s, students and faculty at American Baptist College contributed to the downtown sit-ins and the city's fight for civil rights. The civil rights leader at the school included Reverend Kelly Miller Smith (1920-1948), Reverend Dr. C.T. Vivian (1924-2020), John Lewis (1940-2020), Dr. Bernard Lafayette (1940-), and Reverend Dr. Julius Scruggs (1942-).

Andrew Jackson Hotel

505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Completed on August 29, 1925, the Andrew Jackson Hotel sat at the newly constructed intersection of 6th and Deadrick Street. The hotel was managed by the Dinkler Group, who operated hotels throughout the South, and desigend by Marr & Holman Architects. The first manager was an experienced hotelier from New York, Walter Chandler Jr. At the time of its construction it was heralded by local newspapers as “one of the finest hotel sites in America,” and an early hotel manager claimed it was the most modern hotel in the South. It was twelve stories tall and had four hundred rooms. It was constructed at the same time as War Memorial Plaza and boasted spectacular views of the new building and State Capitol. While it was open it hosted a number of esteemed guests including John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. The hotel was demolished on June 13, 1971 after the Nashville Housing Authority purchased the hotel to use the land for a then unknown urban renewal project. The James K. Polk State Office Building was constructed at the site in 1981.

Andrew Jackson’s Law Office

333 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37201

Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, earned his law license in 1786 after apprenticing under judge and state representative Spruce Macay in Salisbury, North Carolina. Jackson's mentor John McNairy was appointed Superior Court Judge for the Western District of North Carolina in 1788 and he appointed Jackson prosecuting attorney for the district, which covered North Carolina’s territory from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River. Jackson traveled west across present-day Tennessee and arrived in Nashville in fall 1877. He established a law office and land speculation partnership with future Superior Court judge John Overton in 1794, operating here in a building Overton purchased in 1791. The building was razed in 1934.

Archaeology at Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

As Long As The Grass Shall Grow Mural

236 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). One of the early works of the project was Neils "Shoe" Meulman's (1967-) mural, As Long As The Grass Shall Grow, found on the northeast corner of a parking garage on Fifth Avenue North. This mural showcases Meulman's signature style, calligraffiti, which blends calligraphy and graffiti together as one art form. The piece honors Johnny Cash, as it recites his famous lyrics to the song "As Long As The Grass Shall Grow." The song is from Cash's 1964 album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian and was written by Peter La Farge (1931-1965) about the loss of Seneca Nation land for the Kinzua Dam.

Ascend Amphitheater

301 First Avenue South Nashville, TN 37023

Designed by Smith Gee Studio with help from Hodgetts + Fung, Ascend Amphitheater is one of downtown Nashville's newest venues. The site has been transformed from a thermal plant that burned garbage to an amphitheater and park. The open-air venue seats 6,800, with 2,300 fixed seats and 4,500 seats on the lawn. The venue features environmentally sustainable elements such as geothermal heating and cooling, green roofs, solar power, and rainwater collection.

BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated)

10 Music Square East Nashville, TN 37203

Built in 1964, the building gave a home to the first performing rights agency in Nashville when Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) came to the city. Established in 1939, BMI started as an active performing rights agency in Chicago and New York. The company gave the first BMI Country Awards in Nashville in 1953 at the historic Ryman Auditorium. BMI has also helped artists such as Elvis Presley (1935-1977) and Dolly Parton (1946-) collect royalties and establish licensing agreements. The building was remodelled in 1973.

Barbershop Harmony Society

110 7th Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37203

Founded in 1938, the Barbershop Harmony Society preserves a unique style of vocal music that is rooted in both African-American traditions from the 19th-20th cent., and European harmonies. The barbershop harmony style has idiosyncratic features that sets it apart. The Barbershop Society has several locations across the US that perform live concerts, provide educational programs, and maintain the distinctive sound. The Society headquarters moved to Nashville from Wisconsin in 2007.

Bastion

434 Houston Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Josh Habiger opened Bastion in February of 2016, making it his third project in Nashville after The Catbird Seat and Pinewood Social Club. Initially, Bastion was strictly a bar, with a large variety of cocktail and beer options and a food menu limited to nachos. A few months later, Habiger added an intimate restaurant space that can be accessed through the bar, offering five-course and a la carte options. Bastion is located in Houston Station, which was built around 1900. The building was formerly occupied by the American Syrup & Preserve Company.

Battle of Nashville Monument Park

3399 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37212

The Battle of Nashville Monument, commonly referred to as the "Peace Monument," was dedicated in 1927 to honor the sacrifices of the Union and Confederate soldiers of the Civil War as well as World War One veterans. It was commissioned by the Ladies' Battlefield Association and designed by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Moretti using white granite and bronze. The original monument, located on Franklin Pike, suffered damage in a tornado in 1974. A second version was rebuilt in its current location and was dedicated in 1999.

Battle of Nashville Redoubt Number One

3421 Benham Ave, Nashville, TN 37215

In December 1984, the Confederate Army under Gen. John Bell Hood marched north following their defeat at the Battle of Franklin. They built a series of five redoubts--temporary fortifications made of earth and timber--running north along Hillsboro Pike and east along present-day Woodmont Boulevard. The redoubts were meant to protect the Confederate lines to the south. On Thursday, December 15 in the Battle of Nashville, Redoubt Number 1 was attacked by troops led from the west by Major General Andrew Jackson Smith and by Brigadier General Thomas J. Wood from the north. The Confederates were defeated and retreated to Shy's Hill for day two of the battle.

Belcourt Theatre

2102 Belcourt Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212

Founded in 1925 as the Hillsboro Theatre, the Belcourt is an independent nonprofit movie theatre. Its original purpose was to show silent films, then from 1934-36, it was home to the Grand Ole Opry. In 1937, it was renamed Nashville Community Playhouse and was home to community productions, theatre, and film. In 1966, it was renamed the Belcourt Cinema, and returned to its original purpose as a movie theatre, with a mission to engage, enrich, and educate through innovative film programming. In 2016, it went through its first large-scale renovations in 50 years, by architecture firm Tuck-Hinton.

Bells Bend Park

4187 Old Hickory Blvd Nashville, TN 37218

Bells Bend is the name of the arc of the Cumberland River. The park, established in 2007, has over 800 acres that was once inhabited by hunters and gatherers. Beginning with the Woodland Era, centuries-old farming culture thrived because of its rich soils and proximity to the Cumberland. During the Civil War, the Bells Bend riverbank was the setting for a skirmish that lasted from December 2nd to the 15th in 1864; the Union rose victoriously, clearing the area just before the Battle of Nashville commenced. After the historic flood in 2010, the Tennessee Division of Archaeology conducted research and searched for artifacts particularly pertaining to the Paleoindian period groups; due to their results, a part of Bells Bend was designated with the National Register of Historic Places.

Belmont Church

68 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

Lead by David Lipscomb (1831-1917), Belmont Church of Christ was founded in 1911, associated with the conservative sect of the Disciples of Christ. The groundbreaking for the extant chapel occurred in 1915 at what is now 68 Music Square East. Embracing the Spiritual Renewal of the 1970s, the church dropped their denominational ties and changed their name to Belmont Church. After slow growth over many years, Belmont Church rented and later purchased the adjacent building, which was originally an H.G. Hill grocery store, turning it into Koinonia (Greek for fellowship) Bookstore and Coffee Shop. Rising Christian artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith often played at the open-mic nights. Still operating in 2019, the church sees approximately 800 visitors each week.

Belmont Mansion

1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212

Designed by Adolphus Heiman (1809-1862), the Belmont Mansion is an Italianate villa that originally served as the Acklens' summer home from 1859-84. The land was later sold to Susan L. Heron (1852-1933) and Ida E. Hood (1848-1920), who opened Belmont College for Young Women in 1890; they merged with Ward Seminary and became Ward-Belmont College in 1913. In 1951, Ward-Belmont closed and became Belmont College, a four-year university. During this time, the mansion was used as a student center for Belmont College. In 1972, the Belmont Mansion Association began to restore the home; in 1976, it opened for tours to the public. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Belmont University

1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212

Belmont University was founded in 1890 as Belmont College for Women on the grounds of the Belle Monte Estate, summer home of Joseph (1816-1863) and Adelicia Acklen (1817-1887). In 1913 the college merged with Ward Seminary for Young Ladies and became Ward-Belmont College. In 1951 the Tennessee Baptist Convention purchased the school and the new Belmont College became a co-educationl four-year institution. The school became a university in 1991 and in 2007 separated from the Baptist Convention as an "independent, ecumenical Christian university with no denominational ties." The school is well-known for its music business program, which launched in 1971.

Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood

1933 Eighteenth Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212

The Belmont-Hillsboro neighborhood was built on the former lands of the Acklen and Montgomery Estates. After the death of Adelicia Acklen (1817-1887), the oldest portions of the land were subdivided in 1890-91 and the area was later developed under the Belmont Land Company. The neighborhood expanded with the introduction of the streetcar line on Belmont Boulevard in 1901. The neighborhood exhibits a variety of architectural styles and continues to be restored and renovated to support the growing number of residents. A portion of the neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Ben West Library

225 Polk Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

This Mid-Century Modern building features a granite exterior and room-height windows. Initially opening in 1966, the Carnegie Main Library building was re-named in honor of former Nashville mayor Ben West (1911-1974) in 1977. Central operations stayed at the Ben West Library until 2001 when the new building for the downtown Nashville Public Library opened. The Ben West Library was also once home to local radio station WPLN, which launched at the Richland Park branch in 1962 and moved to the central branch in 1966. In 2015, Hastings Architecture purchased the Ben West Library and renovated for their offices, which opened in 2019.

Bianca Page

1501 Ensley Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37210

Mark Middleton, also known as “Bianca Paige,” was born in 1964 and raised in Paducah, Kentucky. Middleton moved to Nashville in 1983. Three years later, Pucci Lisenbee, known as drag performer “Rita Ross,” became Middleton’s mentor. Bianca Paige performed at Warehouse 28 and The Connection. She impersonated a wide range of characters and served as the club’s show director for four years. After Middleton was diagnosed with AIDS, he dedicated the rest of his drag career to increasing awareness and fundraising for HIV/AIDS research, education, and patient support. Middleton died in 2010. In 2021, the Nashville Metro Council changed the name of Carney Street to Bianca Paige Way.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37219

The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park was dedicated in commemoration of Tennessee's two-hundredth year of statehood on June 1, 1996. A “Pathway of History” detailing the Tennessean story from its geological formation to its two-hundredth year, as well as a World War II memorial and a carillon with ninety-five bells, runs the length of the nineteen-acre park. At the southern end of the park, near James Robertson Parkway, there is a two hundred-foot granite map of Tennessee showing all of its counties, major cities, and county seats as well as an interactive fountain display inspired by Tennessee’s river heritage.

Big Machine Label Group

1219 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) is a music label started by Scott Borchetta (1962-) in 2005. The label group includes Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Company, BMLG Records, John Varvatos Records, and the publishing company Big Machine Music. The first artist Borchetta signed was the then-14-year-old Taylor Swift (1989-), producing her first charting single “Tim McGraw.” Other well-known artists under the label include Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and Sugarland. Their artists have been awarded Grammys, Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, Country Music Television (CMT) Awards, along with numerous others.

Bill Monroe Statue

116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Commissioned in 2017 by the Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc, this bronze statue of Bill Monroe (1911-1996) was made by sculptor Ben Watts. Monroe’s life size statue statue stands next to the Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker commemorating the 1945 “Birth of Bluegrass.” Monroe is holding a mandolin, an Italian stringed instrument used in folk music around the world and popularized in the United States in the 1880s. The mandolin is central to the high lonesome sound of bluegrass music, named after Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys. This statue was unveiled in commemoration of the Ryman Auditorium's quasquicentennial.

Black Rabbit

218 Third Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

The local economic boom that followed the Civil War made Nashville the leading city of the New South. The earliest records of 218 Third Avenue North show that it was a furniture store, a retail market which was vital to the city's new wealth. Later, the area became known for its banking and law offices, with this building housing the law offices of Frank Ragano (1923-1988). Representing mafia member Jimmy Hoffa (1913-1975), Ragano challenged Attorney General Robert Kennedy's (1925-1977) efforts in ending organized crime. Paying homage to New York's bygone cocktail bar of the same name, Black Rabbit opened as a sophisticated cocktail bar in late 2017.

Bluebird Cafe

4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215

Amy Kurland opened the Bluebird Cafe on June 4th, 1982. It was originally purchased by her father, Sheldon "Shelly" Kurland (1928-2010), a violinist and session musician. While the cafe was originally meant just to be a restaurant, it quickly expanded to become a music venue and host a writer's group. It has been continuously running ever since.

Bobbie's Diary Dip

5301 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209

C. 1950, Sid C. Dorris (1913-1988) razed a mill that was on the parcel and built a franchised location of "Dairy Dip", which was a popular chain at the time. Years later, c. 1986, "Lee" McWright (unknown-n/a) and Bobbie Jean Meadows McWright (1938-2013) attempted to purchase the Dairy Dip and make it their own, renaming it in the process. Not long after, they were temporarily dragged into a legal battle where someone attempted to seize the property back, saying it had been wrongfully sold to the person they bought it from. In 1998, they closed the Dairy Dip and put it for rent. In 1999, a tenant reopened the Dairy Dip for a few short months before it closed again, and in 1999, yet another new tenant opened it up again, eventually buying the property herself.

Bobby's Idle Hour

9 Music Square South, Nashville, TN 37212

Bobby Herald and his future wife purchased the Idle Hour Tavern in 1978, changing the name to Bobby's Idle Hour Tavern. In early 2005, the tavern relocated on the same block to a 1908 building at 1028 Sixteenth Avenue South. When the owner sold the building in 2018, Bobby's Idle Hour Tavern closed its doors in early 2019 as the last live music venue on Music Row. As of 2019, the owner of Bobby's, Josh Distad, aimed to re-open the bar nearly a block away at 9 Music Square South.

Boswell Science Building

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The Physics and Mathematics Building was built in 1965. This multi-purpose building housed research laboratories, classrooms, a lecture hall, the educational computer center, and faculty offices. It was named for Alger V. Boswell (1900-1984), who served the university from 1930 until 1970 as a professor of mathematics, head of the Arts and Sciences Department, head of the Mathematics Department, assistant football coach, and Vice President. In 1990, the building was renovated and connected to a neighboring building, which cost $6,400.000. This project was completed in 1991 and was once more renamed to be the Boswell Science Complex.

Boyd House

1601 Meharry Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

The Boyd House was built between 1915 and 1920 by McKissack & McKissack, the first Black-owned architectural firm in the country and was home to Dr. Henry Allen (1876-1959) and Georgia Bradford Boyd (1884-1952). In 1938, the house was acquired by Fisk University, and is still under their ownership to this day. In 2021, the house had fallen into disrepair and faced the threat of demolition. With the help of Fisk's fundraising, a renovation took place and was completed in 2023. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Bridgestone Arena

501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37023

Opened in December 1996, the arena has had many names, including Nashville Arena, Gaylord Entertainment Center, and Sommet Center. In 2010, the Nashville-headquartered tire and rubber subsidiary Bridgestone Americas, Incorporated, secured the naming rights to the building. The building was designed by Populous, formerly known as HOK Sport, and has housed over thirteen million guests since its grand opening. The seating capacity ranges from 20,000 for concerts to 19,395 for basketball games to 17,113 for hockey games. While space is most well known for being the home of the National Hockey League team the Nashville Predators, it also houses the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and SiriusXM studios. Bridgestone Arena has won numerous awards, seen millions of visitors, and, as of 2019, remains one of the top entertainment and sports venues in the United States.

Broadway National Register District

417 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Downtown's Broadway National Register District runs along Broadway from Second Avenue to Fifth Avenue and is comprised of almost exclusively commercial structures. The first furniture stores opened here around 1870. Consequently, this area has been the commercial hub of the city since the mid-nineteenth century. Country music came to Broadway in 1941 when the radio program the Grand Ole Opry moved to the Ryman Auditorium from another downtown location. Music-associated businesses soon followed, such as Tootsie's World Famous Orchid Lounge and Ernest Tubb's Record Shop. As of 2019, the district is home to restaurants, gift shops, bars, and honky-tonks, all celebrating the diverse musical heritage of the city. The Broadway National Register District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Brown-Daniel Library

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The Martha M. Brown-Lois H. Daniel Library was constructed in 1976 as a replacement for the old Memorial Library. The Library is named in honor of two individuals: Martha M. Brown (1878-1956), who served as a faculty member, library director and an administrator at Tennessee State University from 1912 to her retirement in 1951; and Lois H. Daniel (1911-1991), who graduated from the University in 1933, and served as the Director of the Library from 1945-1976. Construction of the library cost $2 million. The library houses study and research facilities for students and faculty, a Special Collections Room containing the University’s archives, and other facilities.

Buddy Killen

1600 Division Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Born in Florence, Alabama in 1932, Buddy Killen (1932-2006) was a bass player in the Grand Ole Opry. In 1954, he was hired by Jack Stapp (1912-1980), who was both the manager of the Grand Ole Opry and founder of Tree Publishing. At Tree Publishing, Killen's primary work was as a talent scout and music producer. His starting salary was thirty-five dollars a week. After Stapp’s death in 1980, Killen became the president and sole owner of the company. Killen sold Tree International Publishing to CBS Records for forty million dollars in 1989. One year after the sale of the company, he formed the Killen Music Group (KMG) Records. Killen passed away in 2006 and is remembered as a key figure in the development of the Nashville music industry. Buddy Killen Circle, the traffic roundabout at the entrance to Music Row, is named for him.

Bullet Records

421 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Butler's Run

138 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) Songs

1013 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Built in 1895, this Queen Anne-style house was once home to United States Representative John Wesley Gaines (1860-1926). In 1973, it was converted into a recording studio by the creator of the Nashville Sound, Owen Bradley (1915-1998), toward the end of his career. "Mayor of Music Row" Charlie Monk relocated to Nashville to eventually open CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) Songs in the house. Notable artists such as Johnny Cash, Larry Gatlin, Ricky Skaggs, and Tammy Wynette recorded at the studio. CBS Songs was an active recording studio on Music Row until 1996 when the building was converted into a Landmark Community Bank. As of 2019, it was still operational as a bank.

Cain-Sloan Department Store

501 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

The Cain-Sloan department store was founded in 1903 by Pat Cain (1867-1925), John Cain (1865-1936), and Paul Sloan (1870-1932)on Summer Street, now Fifth Avenue, when they purchased a small shop called "Beehive" and changed the name. Three years later, the store moved to a larger location on the northwest corner of Church Street and Fifth Avenue. After merging with Allied Stores Corporation in 1956, Cain-Sloan expanded again, building a $12 million store on the southwest corner of Church Street and Fifth Avenue, and opening suburban stores in the shopping malls at Greens Hills Village, Rivergate Mall, and later Hickory Hollow Mall. The four Cain-Sloan stores were sold to another department store, Dillard's, in 1988. The three suburban stores were re-named and the donwtown location was closed and later torn down.

Cal Turner Family Student Center

1011 21st Ave. North, Nashville TN 37208

The Cal Turner Family Center for Student Education opened in 2014 as the first new building at Meharry Medical College completed since 1978. The center includes classrooms, boardrooms, and meeting areas of all sizes as well as several other resources for students such as a café, registrar’s office, and a school spirit shop. The building is also LEED certified and incorporates natural greenery instead of a traditional roofing system to reduce the building’s environmental impact.

Cannery Row

1 Cannery Row, Nashville, TN 37203

Originally the Nashville Mill Company, the converted industrial space was once the home to the Fletcher-Wilson Coffee Company and the Dale Foods canning facility. Perry Dale (1927-2018) of Dale Foods later opened the large space into a country music theater and restaurant in the 1970s. He called it "The Cannery," after its former-purpose as part of his family's company. As of early 2019, the building holds three venues: the 1000 person capacity Cannery Ballroom; the 500 person capacity Mercy Lounge; and the 225 person capacity High Watt.

Capers Memorial CME Church

319 15th Ave. N

Captain Thomas Ryman

514 Second Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210

From 1885-1926, this site marked the home of Captain Thomas Green Ryman (1841-1904), his wife Mary Elizabeth Baugh, and their seven children. The home was constructed with a Queen Anne frame, a slate roof, seven gables, and two turrets. In 1885, Ryman attended a religious revival held by Reverend Sam Jones in downtown Nashville. Following this event, he felt he had been commanded by God to use the wealth amassed from his riverboat company and side businesses to create a large church. In 1892, Ryman brought Jones to preach at his new church, the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Built for only $100,000, it was later renamed the Ryman Auditorium following Captain Ryman's death in 1904. Ryman’s home at 514 Second Avenue South was razed in 1940.

Carnegie Academic Building

1741 Meharry Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

The cornerstone of the Fisk Carnegie Library, Fisk's first library building, was laid in 1908 by William Howard Taft, who was then the U.S. Secretary of War. It was funded by Andrew Carnegie, who provided funding for a number of academic and public libraries. The library was designed by African American architect Moses McKissack III; it was his first major design project. It is a two-story Classical Revival building constructed from brick with a stone columned porch, featuring an interior light well. It is included in the Fisk University Historic District and was independently listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It now holds university administrative offices.

Carnival Music

24 Music Square West, Number 2, Nashville TN

Frank Liddell (1963-), who has worked with acts like Kellie Pickler, Brandi Carlile, and Miranda Lambert, left Bluewater Music, a publishing company, to launch Decca Records in Nashville in the 1990s. After Decca's failure, Carnival Music Company was founded in 1997 by Travis Hill and Liddell. It differentiates itself from other publishing companies and record labels by calling itself a "music company," although it does act as both a publishing company and record label.

Carnival Music Mural

24 Music Square West, Number 2, Nashville TN

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). Artist Mike Shine and his crew completed the mural in 2016. Directly across from the historic RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Studio B is a mural of a young Chuck Berry (1926-2017) riding a snapping turtle with a young Hank Williams (1923-1953) riding a crawfish. The pioneers of rock 'n' roll and country music, both wearing cowboy hats and guitars, welcome visitors to Music Row.

Carter House

230 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Daniel D. Carter was born in 1809 in Virginia. His family moved to Montgomery County, Tennessee when he was about ten years old. As a young man he moved to Nashville, where he stayed for over forty years. He built his home on High Street, which is now Sixth Avenue, around 1833. He was partner in a stage coach firm affiliated with the United States Post Office. He then became President of the Bank of the Union, where he worked until the Civil War broke out. Upon Federal occupation, Carter refused to take the loyalty oath and was imprisoned, and Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85), a later United States president, used the home for his headquarters. The home was demolished in 1913.

Carter-Lawrence Elementary School

1093 Edgehill Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Built in 1940 by architect Emmons Woolwine, Carter-Lawrence was a combination of the Carter Elementary School (Grades 1-6) and the Lawrence Elementary School (Grades 1-3). Before 1896, the Carter Elementary School was called the Granny White School until it was renamed to honor the African American educator Howard C. Carter. In addition, the Lawrence Elementary School was named the William Penn School until 1889, when it was renamed to honor African American Judge John Lawrence. Carter-Lawrence educated students in grades K-6 and continues to do so today. During its existence, Carter-Lawrence went through several renovations. In 1948, eight rooms were added to the original two-story brick structure. In 1959, a cafeteria was added. Lastly, in 2003, the school was torn down to build a more modern and appropriate magnet school.

Casa Azafrán

2195 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN

Opened in 2012, Casa Azafrán is home to multiple non-profit spaces. It is recognized as an innovative and collaborative space to serve Nashville. It also contains commercial kitchen Mesa Komal. Allard Ward Architects were applauded with it's creative and modern design. Just like it's original purpose, the building is used as a community center. In May of 2014, it was celebrated with the Urban Land Institute Nashville, Excellence in Development Award. Since then,Casa Azafrán continues to thrive as a multipurpose intercultural space.

Casa Azafrán 01

Pictured is the exterior of Casa Azafrán, 2023. Image courtesy of Maya Englehorn.

Casa Azafrán 02

Pictured is a featured businesses located in Casa Azafrán, 2023.

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Pictured is a 1934 map of the site that Casa Azafrán has been built on.

Castner Knott Building

616-618 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Charles Castner (1855-1913) and William Knott founded Castner-Knott Dry Good Company in 1898. In 1906, the company moved to a five-story Classical Revival building on the edge of downtown at Church Street. The original building had ten-by-twelve foot plate glass windows on street level, a covered carriage entrance, and coffered ceilings. The elaborate brick building attracted shoppers and contributed to the Fifth Avenue Shopping District’s expansion. Castner-Knott bought the Italianate style Armstrong building next door in 1911. In order to compete with newer stores, architecture firm Marr & Holman redesigned the immense space in the Art Moderne style, and connected the floors of both buildings, easing the consumer experience. The department store closed in 1996. 1998-1999 renovations revealed much of the building’s original details. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Centennial Arts Center

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37232

Built in 1932, this site served as Nashville’s premier swimming facility and bathhouse. The “White’s only” pool and bathhouse was abruptly shut down in 1961 in response to an effort to desegregate the pool led by two African American students, Kwame Leo Lillard and Matthew Walker Jr. In 1972, the Art Center was renovated: the swimming pool and pool deck area into a sculpture display garden and pond with courtyard. The arts center now hosts visual art classes and fills its galleries with local artists for exhibition multiple times a year. In 2022, when the art center celebrated its 50th anniversary, it was also recognized as a historical site significant to the Nashville Civil Rights movement.

Centennial Park

2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Originally, the park's land was part of several large plantations owned by some of Nashville's wealthiest citizens. Following the Civil War, it became a fairground well known for its racetrack. From May to October 1897, the park was home to the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition celebrating one hundred years since Tennessee's entry into the Union. After the Exposition, most of the buildings were removed. However, the large-scale replica of the Parthenon was retained as a nod to one of Nashville's nicknames, "Athens of the South." Other features that remained were the man-made Lake Watauga, sunken gardens, and bandshell. The temporary, plaster Parthenon was replaced in the 1920s with the current steel and concrete building. The statue of Athena was added in 1990, designed by artist Alan LeQuire (1955-). The Parthenon was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and Centennial Park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Centennial Park Great Lawn

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

Centennial Park features a 19-acre great lawn that was restored in 2020 with an underground drainage system, soil amendments, laser grading, and turf that is more durable for large crowds and enables. Two 20-foot wide pedestrian promenades were introduced on each side of the lawn to provide more space for pedestrians and enable visitors to travel from the park’s West End Avenue entrance to the Parthenon.

Centennial Park Swimming Pool

301 25th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203

Centennial Park Swimming Pool was opened in 1932, and it served as a community pool for white citizens until the its closing in the 1960's following civil rights unrest in the city. In 1961 two African American students led an effort to desegregate the pool, which resulted in the city closing all pools citywide. The swimming pool was later reconstructed into the Centennial Art Center in 1972, and the pool became a sculpture garden.

Centennial Sportsplex

222 Twenty-Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN

Centennial Sportsplex opened in 1990 as a municipal recreational sports center. It was renovated in 1998 to accommodate the Nashville Predators who officially moved their practice facilities to the Sportsplex in 1999. Also in 1999, the Les Speyer family funded the addition of a tennis facility in honor of former Metro Parks board member Ruthelia Lott Buchi (1919-1997). It was renovated again in 2014 and a new, two-story fitness center was added. The Sportsplex houses two full size, 200 x 85 foot ice rinks, a 50 x 25 meter competition pool, and a 25 x 16 yard recreational pool. The competition pool is named for three-time Olympic gold medalist Tracy Caulkins (1963- ).

Children's Memory Garden

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

The Children’s Memory Garden remembers local children who lost their lives to violence. Approved by the Parks Board in the mid-1990s, financial and in-kind contributions of plants and materials poured in from local congregations and businesses. In 1996, the Garden was formally dedicated, and 35 children were remembered there. Several local organizations volunteered to maintain the Garden in its early years. As the Garden matured, Metro Parks assumed complete maintenance. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, more children lost their lives to violence, and by 2019, the number of children remembered in the Garden had risen to 234.

Christ Church Cathedral

900 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Christ Church Cathedral was established in 1829, with the cornerstone for the first Episcopal church in Tennessee being laid just a year later. The extant building was completed in 1894 by New York architect Francis H. Kimball in the Victorian Gothic style. The tower, designed by Russell Hart, was completed in 1947. The church is built of Sewanee sandstone and Bowling Green stone. Polished granite columns support the arcades. Following the Diocese of Tennessee's split, Christ Church became the Cathedral of the Diocese of Tennessee in 1997. As of early 2019, the Diocese of Tennessee consisted of fifty parishes and missions. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Citizens Bank

2013 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208

The Citizens Bank branch on Jefferson Street was opened in 1979. The bank was started in 1904 and remains the oldest continuously operated African American bank in the United States. In 1902 African American leaders in Nashville formed a chapter of the National Negro Business League to promote Black business interests. Two years later they opened The One Cent Savings Bank in the Napier Court Building at 411 Cherry Street. In 1920 One Cent Savings Bank's name changed to Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company to give it a more populist appeal. In February 1922 Citizens Bank moved to the Colored YMCA building on Cedar Street.

City Market Building

100 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37201

The original City Market Building was razed to make room for a new courthouse. Built the same time as the new courthouse, the new City Market Building was erected in 1936-37 by the Public Works Administration (PWA). At the time, the Public Square was lined with stores that sold everything from hardware to dry goods. The City Market, likewise, was a shopping destination, with public restrooms and stalls for vendors and restaurants. Designed by Henry Hibbs (1882-1949) in the Adamesque Revival style, the building had terrazzo floors and a copper roof with an octagonal cupola. The name of the City Market Building was changed in the 1980s to the Ben West Building in honor of former Nashville mayor Ben West (1911-1974). As of early 2019, the building was owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County and housed government offices. It was designated as a local Historic Landmark in 2015.

Civil War Monument

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

The Confederate Private Monument, a sculpture by George Zolnay, is located about five hundred feet from the Parthenon. The monument erected in 1904 is dedicated to the heroism of the Confederate private. The focal point of the monument is a bronze statue of a Confederate private sitting atop a boulder holding a rifle. The United Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy commissioned this monument as a way to push the Lost Cause narrative of the Civil War. More of these monuments were erected around the 50th anniversary of the Civil War and then later in the 20th century during the Jim Crow era as an intimidation tactic.

Clark Memorial United Methodist Church

1014 14th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

The Clark Memorial United Methodist Church was established at this location in 1945. The congregation was initially founded at Andrews Chapel on Franklin Street by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1865 when Bishop Davis W. Clark (1812-1871), the first president of the Freedman’s Aid Society, was sent to help organize the African American mission at the church. The name was changed to Clark Chapel in his honor. In 1899 a new structure was built at that location and renamed Clark Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1936 the congregation moved to North Nashville and worshipped at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Meharry Boulevard and 12th Avenue North. They moved to the present location in 1945 and built the Educational Building in 1956. In 1957 the added the Parsonage. In 1981 they expanded the Educational wing, renovated it, and renamed it the Grady Sherrill-Matthew Walker wing. Clark Memorial United Methodist Church played a part in the establishment of Central Tennessee College and Meharry Medical College, hosted non-violent workshops during the Civil Rights Movement, and hosted the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1961.

Clay Hall

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The R.E. Clay Education Building was built in 1958 and named in honor of Robert E. Clay in 1968. Clay (1875-1961) was a State Rosenwald School Agent, a representative of the State Department of Education, and the State Developer of Negro Education, a position he held from 1937 until his retirement in 1955. He graduated from Tennessee A&I in 1932. Clay Hall contains offices for the departments of Administration; Curriculum and Instruction, Psychology, Teacher Education and the office of the Dean of the School of Education.

Climax Saloon

210 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The Climax Saloon, also known as the Embers Building, opened in 1887. Designed by architect V. E. Schwab, this Italianate building operated in the Men’s Quarter of the Printers Alley National Register Historic District. It acquired by George A. Dickel (1818-1894), who used the building as the headquarters for Old Cascade Tennessee Whiskey. The first floors featured dancing, gambling, and alcohol. The third floor housed prostitutes, who lined up for selection along the stairway. False walls and hiding spaces were part of the upstairs design in case of law enforcement raids. After being neglected for over eighty-five years, all but the facade of the building was demolished in 2016. As of early 2019, the remaining facade was part of downtown's Dream Nashville Hotel, which connected the remaining part of the Embers Building to the neighboring historic Utopia Building.

Cockrill Spring

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

The site of the spring used to be owned by Anne Roberston Cockrill, the first woman to received a land grant in the Tennessee area. Cockrill Spring was home to a large Bur Oak that measured over 72 inches in diameter and served as the end of Natchez Trace Parkway. The tree was damaged during a storm in 1966, and another oak was planted in its memory in 1971. This oak was nominated as a Heritage Tree by Kevin S. Key of the Metro Tree Advisory Committee. As of 2014, Cockrill Spring is a functioning natural spring that was restored by Metro Parks, the Parthenon, and Centennial Park Conservancy.

College Hill neighborhood

35th Ave N and Clare Ave.

Confederate Women’s Monument

400-498 7th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37243

The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) erected this marker in 1926. The UDC commissioned sculptor Belle Kinney to create the monument. The UDC was started in Nashville in 1894 for the purpose of honoring “the memory of those who served and fell in the service to the Confederate States.”

Cordell Hull Building

425 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243

The Cordell Hull Building was built from 1952 to 1953. Its earliest occupants were a polio research facility, the Department of Education, and the head of the National Guard, who operated a a war room within the building. This Modern style building with Art Deco influences was designed by Joseph W. Hart and James B. McBryde, with a limestone exterior and pink marble interior. It was named for Hull, who served as Secretary of State under Franklin D. Roosevelt (1888-1945) and was the first Tennessean to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in establishing the United Nations. Now called the Cordell Hull State Office Building, it housed legislative offices and committee rooms as of early 2019.

Corsair Distillery and Headquarters

601 Merritt Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Darek Bell and Andrew Webber began making whiskey after attempts of making beer and wine. They founded Corsair Distillery in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Corsair expanded to Nashville in 2009, becoming the first distillery of its kind in Nashville since prohibition. Along with their Wedgewood-Houston location opening in 2016, Corsair has expanded to produce beer at Marathon Village Brewstillery. With options ranging from a Mexican Mole Stout to a Toasted Quinoa Porter. The Wedgewood-Houston location serves all Corsair spirits along with craft cocktails. As of 2019, Corsair is planning on opening a new location in a warehouse in the Nations.

Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum

222 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Country Music Television (CMT)

330 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN, 37201

Founded by Glenn Daniels, Country Music Television (CMTV) went live in 1983 as a country music video channel airing from Hendersonville, TN. The channel featured live performances, concerts, country music videos, and later aired reality programming.CMT was later bought by Opryland in 1991 and changed its name from CMTV to CMT. In 2002, CMT offices relocated to its current location in the CMT Building in downtown Nashville from its previous location across from the Grand Old Opry. In 2016, the building was purchased by Ben H. Willingham III of AmCorp Realty Co.

Court Square, Looking West, Nashville, Tenn., between 1901 and 1907

A postcard of Court Square in Nashville, Tennessee, looking west between 1901 and 1907. Court Square, also referred to as Court House Square or Public Square, was located right in the center of the city. The square, with the county courthouse, city hall and market center, was a focus of wholesale commerce and political activity for the city for many years. On market days the square was especially busy. The crowded market area on this card shows vendor wagons and townspeople. Electric street cars and horse and buggies transport people through the main thoroughfare. The old city hall shown here, dating from the 1850s, was razed in 1935 and replaced by a new city hall and courthouse in 1937. Most of the remaining buildings were destroyed in the 1970s as part of urban renewal projects.

Cravath Hall

1000 17th Ave. N. Nashville, TN 37208

Erected in 1930, Cravath Hall was designed by Nashville architect Henry Hibbs. The building orginally served as the Erastus M. Cravath Memorial Library, named after Fisk University's first president. The interior features murals by famed Harlem Renaissance painter Aaron Douglas. Cravath went through a $6.5 million restoration process in 2003 to restore the exterior building and interior murals. The building currently stands as an admistrative office for Fisk. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Croquet Cafe

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37232

In 1963, the Croquet Clubhouse was built beside the courts, serving as a gathering space and equipment hub for players. A striking architectural example of mid-century modern design, the single-story brick building features a pitched roof, a triangular bay, and an angular facade. As interest in croquet declined, the courts were repurposed into the Event Shelter, a space that hosted generations of celebrations, dances, and picnics. Though the Croquet Clubhouse remained dormant for years, its transformation into the Croquet Cafe ensures it will once again bring people together, now with coffee cups in hand instead of mallets. Recognized for its historical and cultural significance, it was later designated as a contributing structure in Centennial Park’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cumberland Park

592 South First Street, Nashville, TN 37213

Built with funding from Metropolitan Housing and Development and Metropolitan Parks and Recreation Department, this former riverfront wasteland was transformed into a six-and-a-half acre park in 2012. Inspired by the landscape of Tennessee, the park is equipped with water features, climbing structures, walking paths and more. The focal point of the new space is a 1,200 capacity outdoor amphitheater. The park is located on the eastern bank of the river, between the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge. Part of the larger Riverfront Revitalization Plan, Cumberland Park neighbors the developing lawn and the recently renovated Bridge Building.

Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing

150 Fourth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37219

In 1867, the National Board of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church voted to move its Publishing House from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Nashville. In 1871, the first building was opened at 41 Union Street. The building was later moved to 70 Union Street in 1879 and then 138 Church Street in 1884. It finally settled at 150 North Cherry, now Fourth Avenue North, in 1891. By 1913 the structure stretched along the block and included the Publishing House, a bookstore, the Publishing Board, and produced weekly and monthly publications. The Publishing House moved to Nolensville Road in 1914.

Cumberland River

100 First Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201

Over 300 miles of the Cumberland River flows through Tennessee, creating distinctive bends through Nashville and inviting land for wildlife. Before European settlers came, now-Middle Tennessee was a shared hunting ground between the Cherokee and Chickasaws. In the 1670s, French explorers reached the area, drawn to the river as a means of hunting game and trapping furs. On December 24, 1779, James Robertson (1742-1814) and his party arrived on the bluffs of the Cumberland River and crossed over to found what would become the City of Nashville. The city grew and prospered because of the proximity to the river and the accessibility for steamboats and trading. As of 2019, the river is controlled through a series of eight dams operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Two of the dams are in Nashville: Old Hickory (1956) and Percy Priest (1968).

Cummins Station

209 Tenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Upon its erection in 1907, Cummins Station was the largest concrete reinforced terminal building in the world. William J. Cummins commissioned Oliver Contracting Company to build the half a million square foot commercial space. After its completion, Cummins Station housed an H.G. Hill Food Store and Cheek-Neal Coffee, which would later become Maxwell House Coffee, along with other companies. As of 2019, the building was owned by DZL Management Company and received a LEED ND Stage 2 Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council.

Curiot Mural

210-212 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). This segmented mural by Mexican artist Curiot, born Favio Martinez (1982-), decorates the east side of the Cornerstone Building. This work of public art integrates images from Mexican folklore with bright colors and futuristic forms. Funded as a part of the Nashville Walls Project, this mural provides an engaging addition to Nashville's street art scene. This work of art represents the diversification that has sprung up in the rapidly expanding Metro Nashville area. It conforms to and enhances the pre-existing brick facade of the Cornerstone, reinterpreting each enclave as a space for art.

Customs House

701 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

William Appleton Potter, Jame Knox Taylor, and James A. Wetmore served as architects for the building and additions. The cornerstone was laid in 1877, with President Rutherford B. Hayes in attendance, marking the first visit by a United States president to the South since the end of the Civil War in 1865. Originally, the building housed a post office on the first floor, customs activities on the second, and federal courtrooms on the third. Postal activities moved to a new post office in 1935. The federal courtrooms moved to the new federal building next door in 1952. As of 2019, the building is leased by a private company. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Davidson County Courthouse and Public Square

1 Public Square, Nashville, TN 37201

Built in 1936-37 with funds from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, the Davidson County Courthouse sits in the Public Square, just as the three preceding buildings did. One of the few Art Deco buildings in Nashville, it was designed by Frederick Hirons (1882-1942) of New York and Emmons Woolwine (1899-1951) of Nashville. The exterior is Indiana limestone accented with granite and features twelve Doric columns. The interior features red Tennessee marble and restrained Art Deco details like polished brass elevator doors and bronze stair rails. The surrounding Public Square Park features stone engravings of buildings that once stood in the area; two observation towers with historical maps and drawings depicting Nashville's founding and evolution; and a civil rights inspired public art installation in the northwest corner. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Decca Records

27 Music Square East, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

British company Decca Records was founded in 1929 by Edward Lewis (1900-1980). In 1934, its United States label was established by Lewis and Jack Kapp (1901-1949), who was named the first president of the American Decca label. Owen Bradley (1915-1998) headed the Nashville division of Decca from 1958 to 1974. In June 1962, the talent agency Music Corporation of America (MCA) purchased the majority of stock in Decca Records. Four years later Decca was fully absorbed by MCA. As of 2019, MCA's Nashville division operated as part of the Universal Music Group, which moved to downtown Nashville in 2008. It housed several labels: Mercury Records, Decca Records, Capitol Records, EMI Group Limited, and MCA. As of 2019, the former Decca building on Music Row was leased as office space.

Diskin Cider

1235 Martin Street, Nashville, TN 37203

After making their mark in other industries, Adam Diskin and Todd Evans established their goal of bringing crafted cider to Nashville. After studying with expert Peter Mitchell in the United Kingdom, Diskin and Evans opened their Wedgewood-Houston location in 2018. The cidery is a part of the larger Finery, a mixed-use community including Corsair Distillery and residential properties in Wedgewood-Houston. All ciders are made using fresh-pressed apple juice with apples coming from northern United States. Ciders range from Tiki Tonic to Six One Five, a cider named for Nashville's area code.

Doctor's Building

710 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Matthew McGannon, professor of surgery at Vanderbilt University and officer of the Tennessee-Hermitage Bank, saw a need for a large modern building to serve the city’s rapidly expanding medical community. The Doctor's Building, and later the Bennie Dillon building, became a center for medical professionals' offices until the 1960s. The building, designed by Edwin Dougherty (1876-1943) and Thomas Gardner, is a six-story brick building notable for its use of glazed terra-cotta tile. Dougherty and Gardner's commercial interpretation of the Renaissance Revival style produced a functional yet ornate office building. As of 2019, the building was home to a hotel and several storefronts, including the fictional "Highway 65 Records" from the television show Nashville. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Downtown Presbyterian Church

154 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

William Strickland (1788-1854) designed the downtown Presbyterian Church in the Egyptian Revival Style. Completed in 1851, it is one of the few examples of Egyptian Revival church architecture in the United States. The columns and entablature were put in place in 1871. In 1880, the interior was reconfigured and decorated. During the Union occupation of Nashville during the Civil War, the church was used as a hospital by the Union Army. Strickland's building is the third on this same location to serve the historic congregation. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1993.

Dr. Dorothy Lavinia Brown

1802 Albion Street, Nashville TN 37208

Dorothy Lavinia Brown was born in 1919 in Philadelphia. Soon after, her mother placed her in a New York orphanage where she remained for the majority of her childhood. Brown graduated from Bennett College in 1941. After helping in the war effort, Brown enrolled at Meharry Medical College in 1944, and in 1948 she became the first African American woman to receive a medical degree in the South. Brown was chief of surgery at Riverside Hospital and was the first African American woman to be elected to the Tennessee General Assembly. She died in Nashville in 2004.

Dr. Harold Dadford West

1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208

Dr. Harold Dadford West was born in Flemington, New Jersey on July 16, 1904. He received his bachelors, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois in 1925, 1930, and 1937.He was awarded an honorary LL.D in 1955 from Morris Brown College in 1955 after serving as the head of the Department of Science and a professor of chemistry. West took a position with Meharry Medical College as an associate professor of physiological chemistry, then became the first African American president of Meharry in 1952. West was made the first honorary member of the National Medical Association in 1964. He died in 1974.

Dr. L.G. Noel and the Urban Farm at Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

Dr. Matthew Walker, Sr.

1035 14th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Born in Louisiana, Dr. Matthew Walker, Sr. (1906-1978) was an esteemed surgeon and professor at Meharry Medical College from 1935-1973. He was the first African American to be recognized as a fellow in the American College of Surgeons in 1946. His focus on community care was a defining characteristic of Dr. Walker's career, reflected in his role as Project Manager for the development of the Meharry Neighborhood Health Center, opened March 11, 1968 as the first Federally Qualified Health Center in the state of Tennessee. In 1970, the clinic’s name was changed to Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, which it maintains today.

Duncan Hotel

A postcard of the Duncan Hotel built in 1889 by wealthy Nashville broker William M. Duncan. This massice brick building was trimmed in stone and occupied a fourth of the block on the southeast corner of Cherry and Cedar Street (now Fourth and Charlotte). An identifying cupola made the building very unique. The Duncan had four floors comprised of forty-five rooms originally booked for three to five dollars per night. Its location made it convenient to both business and entertainment, but after the panic of 1893, competition from new hotels and a shift in business and entertainment to Church Street made the Duncan's location less desirable to visitors. By 1916 the Duncan had closed its doors as a hotel, and the building was remodeled to be used as the new home for the Colored Y.M.C.A. and te Citizens Savings Bank and Trust. The Duncan Hotel building was razed in the early 1970s during downtown urban renewal.

Early History at Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

Earnest Bar and Hideaway

438 Houston Street Suite 160, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Paul Cercone and Christopher Weber opened Earnest Bar and Hideaway in 2017 under the name Hemingway’s. The bar pays homage to the 1920s and the Lost Generation author’s frequent drinking sprees and revelry. The bar and restaurant is in the historic Houston Station and features an impressive list of specialty cocktails as well as brunch, lunch, dinner, and bar food options. In 2019, the name was changed to Earnest Bar and Hideaway.

East End neighborhood

1017 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206

The East End neighborhood started to emerge between 1880 and 1945. The neighborhood formed as the result of streetcar development across Nashville. These streetcars connected East Nashville with the rest of Nashville, allowing middle class citizens to live in suburban areas. East End fueled the surge of middle class neighborhoods in Nashville.

East Nashville Magnet High School

110 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

East Park

700 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

Ed Temple

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Edward Stanley "Ed" Temple (1927-2016) was a legendary coach for the Tigerbelles track and field team at Tennessee State University from 1953 to 1994. He also coached the United States Women's national team in the 1960 and 1964 Olympics. Over the course of his career, he was inducted into nine different halls of fame and served on three different professional committees. He was also an accomplished athlete in his own right, as an all-state athlete in track, football, and basketball in his home state of Pennsylvania. He received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Tennessee State University.

Ed Temple statue

19 Junior Gillam Way, Nashville, TN, 37219

The Ed Temple Statue at First Horizon Park commemorates women's track and field coach Ed Temple (1927-2016), who coached forty female Tennessee State University students to the Olympics during his forty-four year tenure. The eight foot tall bronze statue resting on a four foot granite base was sculpted by Brian Hanlon (1961- ), whose studio collaborates with college sports programs to use art to motivate student atheletes. It depicts Temple kneeling while holding a stopwatch and book. The statue was unveiled on August 28, 2015 along the greenway at the First Horizon Park baseball stadium (formerly First Tennessee Park), home of the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A East.

Edessa Restaurant

3802 Nolensville Pike Nashville, TN 37211

The Edessa restaurant building was originally built in 1970 as part of a shopping center. Edessa is part of the little Kurdistan community of Nashville. Edessa is named after an important city throughout ancient times in Northern Mesopotamia. With its wealth of biblical associations, Edessa is known as the "Jerusalem of Anatolia" and regarded as a holy site by Muslims, Christians, and the Jewish community. This restaurant was opened to share Kurdish-Turish cuisine. From Mesut Kelik (the co-owner), their mission is to serve authentic, ingredient-driven, and 100% fresh food with an upscale presentation. All food is prepared with halal/Kosher meat and daily fresh veggies. They have been featured in many local and regional publications for their unique cuisine.

Edgefield Baptist Church

700 Russell St, Nashville, TN 37206

The congregation of Edgefield Baptist Church was initially formed on April 14, 1867 at Stubb's Hall. In May of 1869, the church trustees purchased two lots of Edgefield on 500 Fatherland St. for $2900 to be paid over five years. Completed in 1875, the new permanent building seated 475 people. Around 1900, planning began for a larger church on Russell St. In 1905 construction began, and the old church was sold to the Seventh Day Adventists, provided that they both could use the facility until the new church was ready. The current church was finally opened on June 2, 1907. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. In 2021, Edgefield Baptist and Trinity Church merged to form Edgefield Church, with plans to restore the building where they continue to meet.

Edgefield Neighbor-Russell Street

800 Russell St, Nashville, TN 37206

The Edgefield neighborhood was initially given as a land grant to James Shaw for his service in the Revolutionary War. In 1818, David Shelby bought 640 acres of it and gave it to his son, John Shelby, who began building on the land. The area opened further to residents due to the Edgefield Suspension Bridge in 1853 and Shelby's sale of the land in 1854. It became an independent municipality in 1868, and the town was officially made part of Nashville in 1880. The neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Edgefield Neighborhood- Fatherland Street

601 Fatherland St, Nashville, TN 37206

The Edgefield neighborhood was initially given as a land grant to James Shaw for his service in the Revolutionary War. In 1818, David Shelby bought 640 acres of it and gave it to his son, John Shelby, who began building on the land. The area opened further to residents due to the Edgefield Suspension Bridge in 1853 and Shelby's sale of the land in 1854. It became an independent municipality in 1868, and the town was officially made part of Nashville in 1880. The neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Edgehill Homes

1314 Horton Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Constructed in the 1930s and 1940s with the help of the federal housing legislature, Edgehill Homes have existed for almost a century. Although they were meant to be a victory for urban renewal, this was not always the case. In order to build new homes, other residents had to be displaced. Between 1966 and 1972, Nashville utilized funding from the Federal Housing Act of 1949 and created the first public housing development in the neighborhood. During its construction, 2,091 families were displaced, 84 percent of whom were Black. Today, 33 acres of Edgehill are still owned by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Authority. Edgehill Homes has also been renamed Edgehill Apartments and offers 380 different apartments. However, rampant gentrification has dramatically shifted the makeup of what was once a majority-black neighborhood.

Edgehill Park

1409 14th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

In the 1950s, the Federal Urban Renewal Project helped to found Edgehill Park. Homes were cleared to make way for parkland, including the home of William Edmondson, and Metro Nashville Public Schools was set to care for the park. During the 1990s, the Edgehill Community Memorial Garden was built and was later relocated in 2010, where it now rests in the northeast corner of the park. In 2001, the Organized Neighbors of Edgehill (ONE) was awarded a block grant to improve the park, which still exists today. In 2018, Nashville planned to sell Edgehill Park and its garden to private developers. But thanks to the work of the surrounding Edgehill community, a Save The William Edmondson Homesite Coalition was formed, and the park was saved. Today, members of Edgehill continue to add to the park some recent improvements, including planting over 50 trees with the help of the Nashville Tree Foundation, installing dog waste stations, and refurbishing the basketball court.

Edgehill Public Library

1185 Horton Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

The Edgehill Public Library opened in 1967 as one branch of a series of recently opened Nashville libraries, the first being the Howard Library in 1899. With the additional help of Andrew Carnegie's $100,000 donation in 1901 (as long as Nashville agreed to allocate $10,000 for annual maintenance), Nashville continued to grow its literary presence. The idea behind the Edgehill Public Library was to foster a community-based feel instead of the monument-type aesthetic of branches like the Main Library in downtown Nashville. The library is dedicated to Councilman Mansfield Douglass III, a prominent figure in the Edgehill community. In 2001, the branch was renovated to include more technology and build upon the original concept of a community-focused location.

Edward W. Carmack Statue

600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37219

The Edward W. Carmack (1858-1908) statue was unveiled in 1925. Carmack was a leader of Tennessee’s temperance movement and, after losing a bid for governor, became editor of the Tennessean newspaper. Carmack and fellow journalist Duncan Brown Cooper (1844-1922) frequently sparred over their prohibition positions. This feud came to a head on November 9, 1908, when a duel ended in Carmack’s death. Becoming a martyr to prohibitionists, representatives promptly authorized a commission from sculptor Nancy McCormack (1885-1967) to honor him.

Eighth Ave. Reservoir

1498 Hillside Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

The Eighth Avenue Reservoir was completed in 1889 by city engineer J.A. Jowett to hold water for Nashville. Jowett also had the help of Charles Hermany, an engineer from Louisville selected to survey potential reservoir locations. Before constructing the reservoir, Jowett and Hermany disputed the area of the site. Jowett contended that Kirkpatrick's Hill, the former site of Fort Casino, a Confederate fort used during the Civil War, was the ideal location. Hermany argued that neighboring Curry's Hill would prove a better fit. In the end, Jowett was victorious, and the structure was built on Kirkpatrick's Hill as a masonry reservoir. The next noteworthy event occurred in 1912 when 25 million gallons of water poured out of the reservoir wall's southeast quadrant and flooded many surrounding houses. Afterward, yearly inspections were instituted to ensure that the integrity of the reservoir was closely monitored. Today, the Eighth Avenue Reservoir is only used at half capacity. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Elk's Lodge Club Baron

2614 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208

Club Baron, now known as the Elks Lodge, was built in 1955 by local pharmacist, Jackson H. Brown. It was one of many clubs in the area including the Del Morocco and Club Waikiki. The building was also used as a secondary location for Brown's pharmacy business and was the only skating rink in Nashville that would admit African Americans. Some of the famous musicians to perform there were Jackie Wilson (1934-1984), Etta James (1938-2012), Little Richard (1932-2020), and Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970). The building is now owned by the Elks Lodge and is sometimes used by local politicians to host political and social events.

Elliott Hall

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The New Women’s Industrial Building was constructed in 1931. It contained the Home Economics, Domestic Science, and Commercial departments, along with a cafeteria and laundry center. A 1947 renovation modernized the cafeteria and created a music studio. In 1949 it was renamed Jane E. Elliott Hall. By 1979, Elliott Hall housed an auditorium, the office of the Dean of Extension and Continuing Education, and the departments of art, social welfare, and sociology. It currently houses the departments of art, sociology, and social work, the Africana Studies Program, and the Hiram Van Gordon Art Gallery, which exhibits works by Tennessee State University students and alumni.

Ellwest Stereo Theater

418 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37023

The building was constructed c.1915. For decades, it held similar shops to the rest of Broadway at the time, mostly furniture stores. Around 1972, Ellwest Stereo Theater was opened. The building owner was Henry Kantor (1909-1994). The business owners were always less clear, but William (Bill) E. Bingham (unknown-unknown) and Larry Trambitas (1921-unknown) (possibly Valeir Vincent Trambitas). It was almost immediately subject to police raids, and continued to be, for a variety of reasons, for the entire time it was open. This led to a push and pull between branches of government. Ordinances would target Ellwest and other businesses, and police would make a series of raids and arrests. Then a judge would be brought in to decide if they had overstepped. Early raids were for obscenity laws. Subsequent waves were instead about indecent exposure and prostitution. The final wave of raids was around a purported public health crisis, alleging that these stores contributed to the AIDS crisis. A lawsuit by Ellwest et al. went all the way to federal court in 1989, with mixed results. Long story short, Ellwest and related businesses couldn't have private viewing booths. This, combined with the rise of home video rental, drove these stores out of business. Ellwest closed in 1990.

Elm Street Methodist Church

616 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

The Elm Street Methodist Church, built in 1871 in the Italianate style, has two levels and a gabled roof. It is the only remaining Italianate-style church in Nashville. It originally had a tower which burnt down in a 1925 fire. The church’s congregation formed in 1867 from two already existing ones, and they worshipped at this building until their disbandment in 1971. After sitting in a state of disrepair, the property was occupied by Tuck-Hinton Architecture & Design before being purchased to become Heaven's Door Distillery and Center for the Arts, established by musician Bob Dylan (1941-) and co-founder of Angel's Envy Bourbon Marc Bushala (1966-2018). The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Ernest Tubb Record Shop

417 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Known as the Texas Troubador, country singer Ernest Tubb (1914-1984) and his accountant Charles Mosley founded Ernest Tubb Record Shop to aid country fans who could not find their favorite albums in multi-genre record stores. The company started as a mail-order service, and its first physical location was opened in 1947 at 720 Commerce Street. The Broadway location opened in 1951 and continues to be popular for fans looking for niche records that they cannot find online or in other stores. A second location near the Grand Ole Opry in Music Valley Village shopping center closed in 2016. However, as of 2019, the Texas Troubadour Theater at the Opry location continues to host the famous Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree radio show weekly. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as part of the Broadway National Register District.

Estes Kefauver Building

801 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Named for Tennessee congressman Estes Kefauver (1903-1963), this federal building was completed in 1952, and houses the federal courtrooms and offices that moved from Nashville's United States Customs House. Influenced by both the Simplified Classical and Modern styles, local architectural firm Marr & Holman integrated this modern office building into its historic surroundings by using repetitive fenestration paired with classic building materials, such as granite, mahogany, and limestone. As of 2019, the lobby retained original terrazzo floor details and a series of sculptures by Leonard Baskin (1922-2000) that were added in 1977. A rear annex was added to the building in 1974. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Fannie Mae Dees Park

2400 Blakemore Ave, Nashville, TN 37212

Fannie Mae Dees Park was completed in 1978. It is named for a Nashville woman, Fannie Mae Dees, who protested the city's urban renewal efforts and expansion of Vandebrilt University. Her home on Capers Ave. was threatened and eventually destroyed by the expansion. The park was intended to be the site of Saint Thomas Hospital, but was not ultimately used so it was repurposed as a park. Councilwoman Betty Nixon determined the park should be named Dees. In 1973 Anne Roos contacted artist Pedro Silva to ask him to come to Nashville to create a community art project in the park that would unite the neighborhood, divided over renewal. Silva eventually agreed and the mosaic dragon, built by Silva and decorated by the public, was completed in 1980. In 2017 the neighborhood association began fundraising a restoration of the dragon with the help of Silva's son Tony Silva.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

226 Third Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

During the early twentieth century, Nashville was known as the "Wall Street of the South" because of its high number of financial institutions. The Nashville branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta was one such institution, opening on December 21, 1922. A Classical Revival building designed by Nashville architectural firm Marr & Holman with Atlanta architect Ten Eyck Brown (1878-1940), the façade features limestone blocks and a large pedimented portico with Ionic columns. The Nashville branch of the bank operated at the Third Avenue location until 1958 when it moved to Eighth Avenue, now Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Fifth Avenue Historic District

201 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203

Emerging as a retail and shopping hub after the Civil War, Nashville's Fifth Avenue is composed of twenty-eight historic structures that were erected in the late 1800s. Once comprised of stores that focused on furnishings and women's fashion, most commercial space was used to display contemporary art as of 2019. With an entrance on Fifth Avenue, many commercial spaces on the second floor of the historic Nashville Arcade housed art galleries as well. The area was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Fifth Avenue Historic District in 1983.

Filming Station

501 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Opening as a Gulf gas station in the 1930s which would later become a Volvo dealership in the 1950s, the Filming Station became an office, studio space, theater, and venue in 2014. Owner Demetria Kalodimos repurposed the building while maintaining its historical integrity. Awarded a Nashville Historical Foundation Preservation Award, Kalodimos preserved the original stucco building while building an addition made out of 20,000 bricks from a demolished warehouse next door. Kalodimos used Plywood theater seats from local a Masonic lodge and old chrome and car parts for door pulls, light fixtures and trim.

Fire Hall Engine Company Number 7

16 Music Square West, Nashville, TN

Fire Hall Engine Company Number Seven was completed in 1930 and maintained its initial design until it was purchased by Tree International Publishing in 1961. While Tree was founded in 1951, Buddy Killen (1932-2006) was hired by Jack Stapp (1912-1980) to sing demos and audition songs in 1954. In 1955 the business' success was born with the publishing of Elvis Presley's (1935-1977) "Heartbreak Hotel." Tree was later unable to find a label to sign African American singer Joe Tex (1933-1982). Because of the Jim Crow laws and segregation of the era, they decided to create their on record label for African American artists, Dial Records. In 1964, Tree Publishing moved into the former Fire Hall Engine Company Number Seven on Music Row and, as of 2019, the hall continued to be a songwriter's studio.

First Baptist Church Capitol Hill

800 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill originated from First Baptist Church, Nashville, founded in 1834 on Broadway. In 1848, black members of the church formed their own congregation, First Colored Baptist Mission. They bought land in 1872 at Spruce, now Eighth Avenue, and Union Streets. In 1896 they moved a few blocks away to 319 Spruce Street. The church moved again in 1972 to its location at 625 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. Kelly Miller Smith Senior served as pastor from 1951 until his death in 1984. Smith founded the Nashville Christian Leadership Council (NCLC) in 1958 and hosted sit-in training meetings at the church in 1960.

First Baptist Church East Nashville

601 Main St, Nashville, TN 37206

The congregation of First Baptist Church East Nashville was founded in 1866 by Rev. Randall B. Vandavall, a former slave. Construction on the current church lasted from 1928-1931, concluding with Rev. W.S. Ellington as the pastor. The structure itself was designed in the Classical Revival style, with Art Deco windows portraying prominent church leaders and three murals of natural scenes by local African American artist, Frances Euphemia Thompson. The church was an active force in the Civil Rights movement, organizing events, hosting speakers, and proposing legislation. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

First Horizon Park

19 Jr Gilliam Wy, Nashville, TN 37219

An early Mississippian village was located here, centered around an underground sulphur spring that was boiled to make salt. European settlers called this area French Lick Springs, and many visited the springs for medicinal and recreational purposes throughout the 19th century. From 1870 to 1963, Sulphur Springs Park, later called Athletic Park and then Sulphur Dell, hosted Minor League and Negro League baseball games. The stadium was demolished in 1969 and the site became parking for state offices. In 2014, ground was broken on the new First Tennessee Park. It replaced Herschel Greer Stadium (located by Fort Negley) as home to the Nashville Sounds AAA baseball team. The ballpark, renamed First Horizon Park in 2015, was designed by Barton Malow and Bell & Associates Construction.

First Lutheran Church

113 Eighth Avenue S, Nashville, TN 37203

The First Lutheran Church on Eighth Avenue was constructed in 1951 under the guidance of the Reverend Dr. I. W. Gernert (1889-1964) and designed by the Nashville architectural firm of Marr & Holman. The congregation moved from their home on Fifth Avenue, which was a church acquired from First Baptist in 1885. The First Lutheran Church is the oldest Lutheran congregation in Nashville. Six of the twelve Gothic stained glass windows were brought from the Fifth Avenue location and the additional six were added during construction. The pulpit and lectern also came from the old church. The Sudekum Memorial Chapel was dedicated later in 1955. The Schantz organ was installed in 1963, and the nave was renovated in 1992. As of 2019, the congregation remained in at this location.

First Unitarian Universalist Church

1808 Woodmont Blvd. Nashville, TN 37215

The congregation of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville was established May 26, 1954. That year they purchased a house on Fairfax Avenue. Reverend Robert C. Palmer was the first minster and led the church until 1971. In 1958 the congregation bought property and a house at 1808 Woodmont Boulevard, which they used for church services beginning in 1961. That same year the Morgan House at 3428 Hopkins Street was built. An addition to the original church house was designed by architect and church member Bruce Draper. Draper studied with Frank Lloyd Wright and the church design is inspired by Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House, in Madison Wisconsin. The new building additions were dedicated November 7th by Reverend Palmer. In 1999 the church acquired a house at 1800 Woodmont Boulevard, now the Norris House.

Fisk Memorial Chapel

1000 17th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208

Erected in 1892, the Fisk Memorial Chapel was designed by William B. Bigelow of New York City and constructed from funds left by Fisk founder General Clinton B. Fisk. The chapel seats almost 800 and has hosted many cultural functions including concerts, academic convocations, lectures, and graduation exercises. Public figures who have spoken or performed here include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., bell hooks, Thurgood Marshall, Duke Ellington, and Booker T. Washington. It is also the home performance site for the Jubilee Singers. The chapel was restored in 1992, and re-dedicated in celbration of its 100th anniversary. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Fisk University

1020 Seventeenth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208

Five Points

1101 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

The Five Points Redevelopment District, located at the intersection of 11th St, Woodland Ave, and Clearview Ave, began attracting companies thanks to low interest loans from the Metro Development and Housing Agency in the 1970s. In 1998, the tornado that ripped through East Nashville crippled Five Points, but efforts to rebuild and a major revitalization in the early 2000s turned it into a bustling, modern hub of shops, restaurants, arts, and culture in Nashville. In March of 2020, another tornado devastated East Nashville, causing serious damage to Five Points and the surrounding area.

Flag Pole at Fort Negley

Flamingo Cocktail Club and Falcon Coffee Bar

509 Houston Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Flamingo Cocktail Club and Falcon Coffee Bar opened in 2018 in what was formerly Good Samaritan Missionary Baptist Church. Sisters Alexis and Britt Soler, who are also behind No. 308 in East Nashville and Old Glory in Edgehill, partnered with Angela Laino to open the adjoined spaces. The three met working at The Florida Room in Miami. This background is reflected strongly in the bright pink exterior, mid-century decor, and cocktail club feel. Flamingo and the Falcon Coffee Bar, appropriately painted black and co-owned by Andy Knepshield, focus on sustainability, with a vegan menu, biodegradable materials, compost bins, and a seasonal garden.

Floyd-Payne Center

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The Floyd-Payne Center was built in 1992, replacing the former Student Union Center. Used for student life activities, the building is named after Dr. Otis L. Floyd (1928-1993), who was president of the university from 1986 to 1990, and Dr. Joseph A. Payne (1916-1976), who served as Dean of Students from 1958 to 1972 and then as Vice-President of Student Affairs. This building houses student services, recreational centers, entertainment venues, food services, campus retailers, and meeting rooms. In 1988, the Tennessee General Assembly granted the university $112 million, funding the construction of the Floyd-Payne Center and other buildings.

Former Site of Greer Stadium

Fort Nashborough

170 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

In 1780, the James Robertson (1742-1814) and John Donelson (1718-1785) parties came to the bluffs along the Cumberland River and established the fort along with various other stations along the river. Fort Nashborough was the location for many important historical moments including the signing of the Cumberland Compact, which established the first representative form of government in the new settlement. A replica built in 1930 stood close to the original site until the 2010 Nashville flood damaged the facility. The site was renovated in 2017 and now features the Fort Nashborough History Center.

Fort Negley

1100 Fort Negley Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

Named after General James S. Negley (1826-1901), Fort Negley served as the largest inland stone fortification built during the Civil War. Strategically located on top of St. Cloud Hill, the Fort was made out of limestone, logs, earth, and railroad iron. The Fort was built by both freedmen, runaway slaves, and enslaved African-Americans. The Fort played a role in the Battle of Nashville, with the actual battle taking place south of the Fort. Significantly, United States Colored Troops fought to repel Confederacy forces. During the 1930s, the Fort was reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in an effort to preserve integrity of the Fort. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It was listed as a Site of Memory in the Slave Route Project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019.

Fort Negley Visitors Center

1100 Fort Negley Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

Located at the Union troop fortification Fort Negley, the Fort Negley Visitors Center was opened to the public on December 15, 2007. The center's mission statement includes the promotion and a better understanding of the socio, political, and military forces central to Nashville's history. The center offers programming and interactive displays to illustrate multiple narratives involving the Fort. The Visitors Center also partners with various historical and preservation groups to host programming that gears toward their core values. Fort Negley was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Fort Negley was listed as a Site of Memory in the Slave Route Project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019.

Founding of Nashville statue

287 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

This bronze statue, created by Nashville artist Puryear Mims (1906-1975), recreates the handshake between James Robertson (1742-1814) and John Donelson (1718-1785) on April 24, 1780, having just reunited at the site of their new settlement that would grow into city of Nashville. This reunion led to the signing of the Cumberland Compact by 250 men, establishing what would later become the city of Nashville. Puryear Mims, a professor of sculpture at Vanderbilt University, was tasked with commemorating this historic event in the wake of the 1962 vote to consolidate the governments of Nashville and Davidson County into the nation’s first true city-county body.

Freedman's Bank

312 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37219

The Freedman's Trust and Savings Company was chartered by the United States government on March 3, 1865 with the goal of assisting newly-freed African Americans as they established financial freedom and security. The headquarters moved from New York to Washington, D.C. in 1866. There were thirty-seven branches across seventeen states totaling over $57 million in deposits. The Nashville branch opened in December 1865. In 1871, the company moved to the newly built Liberty Hall building at 44 Cedar Street, now Charlotte Avenue. All branches closed in 1874 after the bank failed due to the Panic of 1873 and the financial mismanagement of its administrators.

Frist Art Museum and United States Post Office

919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Built with Public Works Administration (PWA) funding by local architectural firm Marr & Holman, this massive Art Deco post office was completed in 1934. The interior retains many original Art Deco details, such as the geometric terrazzo and marble floors, aluminum handrails on the interior stairs, and stainless steel grilles inset with images of modes of transportation. In 1998, ownership was transferred to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. The building was converted into the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, with the post office operating out of the basement. The name was changed to the Frist Art Museum in 2018. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Front Street Warehouses

138 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

Nashville's historic Front Street Warehouses demonstrate the city's growth during the nineteenth century. Most of the two- to five-story buildings date from 1870 to 1890. Merchants built these warehouses with close proximity to the Cumberland River in order to serve the steamboat trade. As the shipping trade declined, the block of warehouses fell into disrepair. An adaptive reuse effort in the mid-1970s gave the warehouses a new life. Notable features include cornices, Italianate-style arched windows, and cast-iron detailing. As of 2019, the buildings housed restaurants, shops, apartments, condominiums, and more. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 as part of the Second Avenue Commercial District.

Frost Building

161 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

This four-story building, once home to the Baptist Sunday School Board, was completed in 1913 by architecture firm Gardner and Seal. Constructed with gray granite, it was designed in the Neoclassical architectural style and uses the Roman Corinthian Order. The Frost Building was named in honor of Dr. James Marion Frost (1848-1916), a Southern Baptist preacher and founder of the Baptist Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Gabby's Burgers and Fries

493 Humphreys Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Gabby’s Burgers and Fries occupied a building that formerly housed Hap Townes, a meat-and-three that opened in 1946 and became a Nashville institution. Frequented by workers from the nearby May Hosiery Mill and Music Row, the restaurant was a favorite of both celebrities and working-class people. James Beverly “Hap” Townes (1923-2012) eventually took over the business from his father, Gardner “Hap” Townes (1890-1980), and ran the restaurant until 1985. Doug Havron (1966-) opened Gabby’s Burgers and Fries in 2009, and the restaurant has quickly become a fixture in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Doug Havron strives to carry on Hap’s legacy of good food and honest service at Gabby’s.

Gay and Lesbian Community Center

703 Berry Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37204

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center, also known as The Center, opened in February 1991 at 703 Berry Road. It was a place to gather for events, support groups, and general information about LGBTQ+ issues and local gay-friendly businesses. The Tennessee Gay and Lesbian Alliance previously used the space and when they disbanded the owner wanted to continue its use for the LGBTQ+ community. The organization hosted public programs on religion, political issues, health, and more. They had a little library of shelves filled with books and magazines on LGBTQ+ topics and shared event fliers in the area. In 2001, The Center moved to 961 Woodland Street and was renamed the Rainbow Community Center. The Center closed in 2003.

George W. Cunningham House

221 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Born in 1827, George Cunningham made the house his residence in 1858 on the site of his mother in law's gardens. The Italianate house was an ornate show of Cunningham's wealth accrued as a partner in the hardware wholesaler firm Fall and Cunningham. During the Civil War, the house was used as headquarters for William Rosecrans (1819-1898), Don Carlos Buell (1818-1898), Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), and George Henry Thomas (1816-1870). It became the Hermitage Club in 1881, and a third floor was added. It was razed in 1930 for a parking lot.

Ghost Ballet for the East Bank Machineworks

East Bank Greenway, Nashville, TN 37213

Measuring one hundred feet high, one hundred feet wide, and sixty feet deep, the award-winning Ghost Ballet steel sculpture brought national attention to the city of Nashville when it was completed in 2007. That year, the sculpture was selected for Art in America Annual Guide to Galleries, Museums, and Artists as one of the top pieces of public art in the nation and appeared in Sculpture, Public Art Review, and Art in America magazines. Major sculptor and conceptual artist Alice Aycock (1946-) was commissioned to create a work that focused attention on the Cumberland River alongside the sculpture and foster a collective memory of the area. Aycock describes her work as static animation, seeming to change and dance as one moves around it, perceptually extending Broadway and tying it to the greater environment along the Cumberland.

Goo Goo Shop and Dessert Bar

116 Third Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201

Founded in 1901, Anchor Candy Company was later reorganized and renamed Standard Candy Company. Under the Standard name, founder Howell H. Campbell Sr. produced the world's first combination candy bar in 1912, featuring caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts and milk chocolate. Standard boosted the Goo Goo Candy Cluster's popularity with a strategic sponsorship of the famous Grand Ole Opry. With a change in ownership in the 1980s came a major expansion in market, with Goo Goo Clusters being sold in areas ranging from Mexico to China. Opening their downtown location in January 2015, Nashville's Goo Goo Shop added a milkshake and dessert bar in 2016.

Goodwill Manor

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Goodwill Manor, initially known as Volunteer Manor, was constructed in 1912 and served as the first president’s home. By 1968, several older buildings had been demolished to make way for new construction, and Goodwill Manor was the oldest remaining building on campus. In 1968, the Manor ceased to be a residence; it was used to house the Public Relations and Alumni Relations Offices from 1968 until 1984. $300,000-$400,000 spent to restore the Manor during the 1986-1987 school year. The Manor was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, but was removed in 1991 when a complete reconstruction of the building began. As of 2019, the Manor houses the Office of Alumni Relations.

Granbury's Lunette

259 Polk Ave, Nashville, TN 37210

Granbury's Lunette was a crescent-shaped fortification used by Confederate troops as part of their line of defense during the Battle of Nashville. It was named for General Hiram B. Granbury, who perished in the Battle of Franklin. It was held by General Benjamin Franklin Cheatham and 344 of Granbury's former corps members along with 4 pieces of artillery. The Union Army troops, primarily United States Colored Troops (USCT), launched the Battle of Nashville attack on the morning of Thursday, December 15, 1864. They were not successful and suffered many casualties.

Grand Lodge of Tennessee Free and Accepted Masons

100 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203

Designed by the architecture firm Asmus and Clark in 1925, the Classical Revival-style building was created for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Housing the Odd Fellows as well as over one hundred doctors offices, the four story concrete building was notable for the Greek Ionic order columns along the west side of the building, and the Ionic pilasters on the south side. Also known as the Medical Arts Building, it was purchased by the Free and Accepted Masons in 1937. As of 2019, the inside featured original marble floors and a marble stairwell, along with portraits of former Grand Masters, which include President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845).

Gray and Dudley

221 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

The structure at 221 Second Avenue North spans an entire city block in the Second Avenue Commercial District. Completed in 1900, the Romanesque and Colonial Revival style building was built for the Gray & Dudley Hardware Company. The company remained in the building until 1942. In 2016, 21c Museum Hotels purchased the space from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for six million dollars. The company restored the building, turning it into a boutique hotel and museum. The hotel also features a restaurant, appropriately named Gray & Dudley.

Greer Stadium

1100 Fort Negley Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

Formerly on Fort Negley's property, Greer Stadium was constructed for the Nashville Sounds, the city’s minor league baseball team. Named for Herschel Greer (1906-1976), a Nashville businessman and the founding president of the city's first baseball team, the Nashville Vols, the stadium took over baseball diamonds and park space that were open to the public. The stadium was vacated as the team moved to a new stadium in 2015. With the property's future uncertain, a controversial redevelopment plan proposed mixed-use property that included park space and affordable housing. However, in 2018, the land was returned to Fort Negley Park after the discovery of unmarked slave burial grounds near the Greer Stadium property. Fort Negley was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Fort Negley was listed as a Site of Memory in the Slave Route Project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2019.

Greyhound Station

513 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Greyhound Lines was founded in 1914 in Hibbing, Minnesota by Carl Wickman (1887-1954). By 1927, the company offered transcontinental trips and had opened bus stations across the nation. The Nashville Greyhound terminal opened c. 1929 in the Union Bus Terminal, located at Commerce Street and Sixth Avenue. The Greyhound Station housed a restaurant called the Post House, where Nashville students staged sit-ins to protest segregated lunch-counters. Under Diane Nash’s (1938-) leadership, a group of Freedom Riders left here for Birmingham to continue the protest of state segregation of interstate buses and facilities. Greyhound moved to its present location on Rep. John Lewis Way in 2010.

Hankal Hall

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Hankal Hall was erected in 1957. The original purpose of the hall was residential; it now serves as an office area—including a state-of-the-art computer lab, study room, and lounge—for student athletes. The dormitory was dedicated to Edna Rose Hankal (19??-1973) on May 30, 1958. Hankal was appointed consecutively as the second Dean of Women, Residence Director of Hale Hall, and Head Resident Counselor. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Hard Rock Cafe

100 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37201

The Hard Rock Cafe opened in downtown Nashville in 1994. The restaurants hosts live music and entertainment with casual dining.

Harvey's Department Store

500 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Harvey's Department Store was founded in 1942 by Fred Harvey (1898-1960) at the corner of Church Street and Sixth Avenue, taking over the space vacated by Lebeck Brothers Department Store. After Cain-Sloan left their location on the northwestern side of Church Street and Fifth Avenue, Harvey's expanded, taking over both spaces and covering the entire block of Church Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Harvey's expanded to suburban locations at Madison Square Shopping Center and 100 Oaks Shopping Center in the 1960s and 70s, as well as multiple locations across middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. The downtown Harvey's store closed on January 28, 1984 and the building was later dmolished for a parking lot.

Hatch Show Print

224 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Hell's Half Acre

600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN, 37219

The neighborhood called Hell's Half Acre was located in the low-lying area to the north and west of the Tennessee State Capitol. Originating in the Reconstruction Era, the neighborhood was comprised mostly of immigrants and recently freed African Americans. It was known as an overcrowded slum and a red-light district, with high rates of crime and poverty and numerous brothels and saloons. Due to the Acre's location outside of city limits, Nashville authorities had little control of the area. Despite its illicit reputation, the neighborhood was home to a rich African American cultural tradition. It was razed in the 1950s as part of the Capitol Hill Redevelopment Plan, and the residents were forced to move to other parts of the city.

Henry "Good Jelly" Jones

510 Jefferson Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37208

Henry "Good Jelly" Jones was a the owner of "Good Jelly Jones Place," a barbecue restaurant and bar at 510 Jefferson Street during the 1950s and 1960s. Arguably, he was Nashville’s most important un-elected Black politician, as he often talked to the patrons and advised them who to vote for. He also knew how to get voters to the polls, which affected the outcome of close elections for mayors, local judges, and city council members. Because of his political connections, and the politicians he helped elect, charges were usually dropped or the judge would dismiss the case.

Herakut Mural

210-212 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). Created in 2016 by German street art duo Herakut, comprised of Jasmin Siddiqui and Falk Lehmann, the Herakut Mural decorates the south side of the Cornerstone Building in downtown Nashville. The red brick of the Cornerstone Building contrasts with a blue dog, who is saying, "One day, I will rescue your brother, too." As the dog held a small girl, her brother was framed by a window as he played on a mobile phone.

Hermitage Hotel

231 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The Hermitage Hotel instantly became a staple in Nashville culture upon its opening as the first million dollar hotel in the city in 1910. The Beaux-Arts design exudes luxury, allowing the hotel to host celebrities and politicians alike. One of its most important roles in history came in 1920 with the decision to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Both supporters and opponents of female suffrage set up local headquarters in the hotel and lobbied to state lawmakers for their respective causes. One famous site within the hotel was the Art-Deco men’s restroom and shoeshine stand that once won the title “America’s Best Restroom." The hotel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Hillsboro Village

2100 Acklen Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212

Hillsboro Village was largely developed on portions of the Acklen Estate sold off in 1890 and the former Roger Williams University campus that burnt down in 1905. After Peabody College's relocation in 1911 and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine's relocation to the main campus in 1925, the neighborhood quickly expanded. Although the first home was constructed c. 1911 by architect Robert S. Sharp (c.1887-1917) at 1701 18th Avenue South, it wasn't until the late 1920s when Hillsboro Village's commercial and residential construction began to greatly increase. This was following the expansion of local streetcar lines and the introduction of companies like H.G. Hill, Piggly Wiggly, and Fourth and First Bank and Trust.

Historic Belmont Quad and Bell Tower

1930 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212

Completed in 1853, the Belmont Tower originally functioned as a water tower for the Belmont Mansion. Constructed by Adolphus Heiman, the tower stands at 105 feet tall and was modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria built in Ptolemaic ancient Egypt. During the Civil War it also functioned as a signal tower. In 1928, the Ward-Belmont School inserted twenty-three bells in the tower, making it Tennessee's first carillon and one of five now existing in the state. The Belmont Tower was renovated in 2010. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Historic First National Bank

170 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Located in the Printers Alley National Register Historic District, Nashville's historic First National Bank was completed in 1905. Designed by the architecture firm Barnett, Hayes and Barnett, this twelve story office building was one of Nashville's first skyscrapers. Third National Bank acquired the building in 1938 and doubled its size. Concurrently, new Art Deco detailing replaced the exterior’s original Neo-Classical ornamentation. After sitting empty for almost eleven years, it avoided demolition due to its 1997 renovation into the Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Downtown. First National Bank is among the tallest structures in the Printers Alley Historic District.

Hotel Tulane

201 Polk Avenue Nashville, TN 37203

The Hotel Tulane was built in 1894 in the Renaissance Revival style. Originally named the Nicholson Hotel, the structure was built on former site of an upscale boarding house and residence of I.C. Nicholson. In 1896 the hotel was expanded, renovated, and renamed “Tulane” after a relative of one of the new owners. In 1897, it housed visitors from all over the world during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Anne Dallas Dudley and several other women met in a parlor of the Hotel Tulane and founded the Nashville Equal Suffrage League to support the right of women to vote in 1911. In 1947, National Life and Accident Company established Castle Studio, Nashville first major recording studio at the site. The Tulane closed in April 1956 and was razed in November of the same year.

House of David Historic Recording Studio

1205 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

House of David's building is comprised of two historic houses: a 1913 brick Colonial Revival foursquare at 1205 Sixteenth Avenue South and a 1909 Colonial Revival bungalow at 1207 Sixteenth Avenue South. The 1913 building was originally owned by landscape architect George B. Moulder (1869-1959), while Edward B. Dakin, manager of the Nashville Banner newspaper, owned the 1909 building. Both buildings were purchased by musician David Briggs (1943-) in 1972 and then repurposed into recording studios, office spaces, artist lounges, and music equipment storage. In order to maintain the integrity of the original buildings, all renovations were designed to be reversible. The 1913 building serves as the main recording studio spaces while the 1909 building houses the publishing house offices.

Howard Gentry Athletic Complex

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The Howard Gentry Complex was opened in 1980, and served as a facility for Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Convocation. The Complex contains a 10,000-seat basketball and convocation arena, a 220-yard indoor track known as the Wilma Rudolph Indoor Track, an 8-lane swimming pool known as the Thomas H. Hughes Aquatic Center, and other sports facilities. In 1992, the basketball court was renamed the McLendon Court in honor of Tennessee State University and Basketball Hall of Fame head coach John B. McLendon.

Hubbard House

1109 1st Ave S

Hubert Crouch Hall

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Built as the Graduate School Building in 1967, this building was re-named for Hubert B. Crouch in 1980. Crouch (1906-1980) was a Professor, Head of the Department of Biology, and Director of the Division of Science from 1944-1972. He also served as the first full Deaof the Graduate School. The building houses the offices for the Dean of the Graduate School and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. It also contains the main offices for the departments of Communication, Government and Public Affairs, History and Geography, and Modern Foreign Languages.

Hulda Margaret Lyttle

1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208

Hulda Margaret Lyttle was born in 1889 in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Hubbard Hospital's Training School for Nurses in 1913, becoming one of the school’s first three graduates. In 1916, she returned to Meharry as Director of Nurse Training. Later in her career, she served as superintendent of Hubbard Hospital and director of the School of Nursing. In 1938, she was appointed dean of Meharry's School of Nursing. She was the school's first African American female dean and one of the first African American deans in the United States. On August 7, 1983, Lyttle died at Cedars of Lebanon Medical Center in Miami.

Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School

700 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Nashville’s first public school, Hume School, opened in 1855 and originally employed twelve teachers, serving grades K-12. In 1874, high school classes were moved to Fogg High School built on an adjoining lot. Named for educators Alfred E. Hume (1866-1950) and Francis B. Fogg (1795-1880), the schools merged, and the building opened in 1912. Architects William Ittner (1864-1936) and Robert Sharp designed the five-story Gothic Revival building, which was connected to a tunnel network underneath downtown Nashville. The school features two octagonal castellated towers as well as castellation at the roof parapet, all made of intricately worked stone. In 1942, Hume-Fogg shifted to a technical and vocational school. It continued in this capacity until 1982 when Hume-Fogg was recast as a school for gifted Nashville students, earning the name Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School. The school was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Humphreys Street Coffee Shop

424 Humphreys Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Humphreys Street began in 2008 as part of Harvest Hands, an organization that provides after-school programs for South Nashville students. They were invited by South Nashville Action People, known as SNAP, to help solve challenges in the community and focus on the area’s youth. Humphreys Street began by roasting coffee and crafting soap. In 2018 they opened a coffee shop that also sells their soap and employs sixteen local students a year.

Ian Ross Mural

251 Eleventh Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). As of early 2019, Ian Ross's mural is one of the most recent additions to the project, overlooking a parking lot on Eleventh Avenue in the Gulch. Trained in ceramics, his mural echos the movement and three-dimensional detail seen in sculpture. Ross hopes "...his mural in the Gulch allows the public to be individually and collectively affected by something they can see within his piece."

International Market

2013 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212

The International Market was founded in 1975 by Win (1932-2019) and Patti Myint (1945-2018) to spread the culture of Thai food and provide “a welcoming space for neighbors, day laborers and culinary tourists to experience one of the earliest multicultural dining experiences in Nashville,” according to the restaurant's website. When Patti passed away in 2018, the International Market closed its doors, but in 2021 the sister-brother duo Anna (1985- ) and Arnold (1977- ) Myint reopened the restaurant with the same passion. They moved across the street from the original restaurant, but kept the booths customers adored and extended the menu and added a sign that says “Be Good” in remembrance of their mother.

Jack Civil

170 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

The John Donelson (1718-1785) party began its water route to the Cumberland Compact in late 1779 with many enslaved African Americans as part of the group. Jack Civil was one of the few free African Americans who made the journey. Civil arrived at Fort Nashborough with the Donelson party on April 24, 1780. By 1800, the Nashville population included 295 whites, 151 enslaved persons, and three free African Americans. Civil left the Nashborough settlement after a dispute in which he was not given the full share of his land grant. Once he left, white settlers disparaged his name and accused him of assisting the Native Americans during later uprisings.

Jack's Tracks Recording Studio

1308 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

The studio, which first opened in 1971, is the third studio of songwriter and producer Jack Clement (1931-2013). After the 1975 failure of one of Clement's other studios named JMI Records, Jack’s Tracks Recording Studio was sold to songwriter and publisher Allen Reynolds (1938-) for $65,000. Reynolds produced many albums in the studio including records by Don Williams (1939-2017) and George Hamilton (1937-2014) as well as all but one of Garth Brooks’ albums. Reynolds operated the studio from 1975 until 2010 when he sold it to Brooks. Two years later, Brooks renamed the studio to Allentown Studio in honor of Reynolds. As of 2019, the studio served as Garth Brooks’ recording studio.

Jackalope Brewing Company - The Ranch

429B Houston Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Jackalope Brewing Company was founded by Bailey Spaulding and Robyn Virball, who met abroad in St. Andrews during their undergraduate career, Scotland. After pursuing other interests, Spaulding and Virball opened one of the first female-founded breweries in the nation in 2011, with a focus on crafting year-round and seasonal brews along with hosting community-oriented events. Hitting local achievements like being Nashville's first craft brewery to can its beer and remaining Nashville’s third oldest production craft brewery has allowed Jackalope to expand to both Chattanooga and Memphis. Their first location opened on Eighth Avenue South, and they opened their Wedgewood-Houston location in 2018. Dubbed the Ranch, it features a taproom, patio and tours. The Eighth Avenue location, dubbed the Den, features the original brewery along with a taproom.

Jackie Shane

2600 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208

James Geddes Engine Company Number 6

629 Second Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210

Built in 1895, this location originally housed the James Geddes Engine Company Number 6. It was named for James Geddes (1828-1914), who worked as a surveyor for the Louisville and Nashville railroad. It was constructed using red brick, stone, metal, and terra cotta. It is the only remaining fire hall built in the city during the late nineteenth century and the last to have used horse-drawn equipment. The lot was acquired by attorney Larry L. Roberts (1939-) in 2012, and sold to L&L Nashville LLC for nearly $2.62 million. Between 1983 and 2019, the building housed the law office of Roberts, Thornton, & Pence as well as attorney David Gardner (c.1900s-). The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

James K. Polk Place

213 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The future home of James K. Polk, eleventh president of the United States, was built between 1815 and 1820 by Felix Grundy, who also served as a mentor to Polk. Grundy built the Palladian-style house on Vine Street and called it Grundy Place. He lived there until his death in 1840. Polk purchased the house in 1847 while he was president. Polk and his wife Sarah renamed the home Polk Place and renovated the home in 1847-48, converting it the fashionable architectural style of the era, Greek Revival. After completing his term as president, James and Sarah moved into the home in spring 1849. Polk died of cholera in the home in mid-June of the same year. His widow Sarah continued to live in Polk Place until her death in 1891, and the home was razed in 1901.

James Weldon Johnson

912 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville TN 37208

James Weldon Johnson, born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1871, was a prominent African American educator, activist, lawyer, and writer. Johnson began his education at the Stanton School, completed his high school and college degrees at Atlanta University, and later completed a law degree. Johnson served as principal at the Stanton School for several years working towards further racial integration of students. He also held several positions within the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) including Vice Secretary. Johnson ended his career as a professor of creative writing at Fisk University. He died in New York in 1938.

Jason Woodside Mural

299 Eleventh Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). As of 2019, one of the most recent additions to the project is Jason Woodside's mural that overlooks a parking lot. A New York based artist, Woodside has worked with companies like Adidas, Obey Clothing and Colette in cities like Paris, Los Angeles and Sydney. His Gulch mural holds geometric patterns and bright colors.

Javanco and Farber Buildings

401-601 Twelfth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Replacing a series of smaller commercial buildings that housed several African American businesses, the Javanco and Farber Building was built in the 1930s by local publishing giant Marshall & Bruce Printing Company. Javanco, an electronic parts surplus house, opened in the building in the 1960s when the Gulch was still largely a vacant, industrial area. After the company moved to Eighth Avenue South in 1999, the consequently-named Javanco Building was occupied by the short-lived restaurant Six Degrees, one of the first failures of the Gulch redevelopment project, as well as thirty-two residential lofts. Since Six Degrees' failure, the building has become home to restaurant and retail stores like Watermark, Urban Outfitters, the 404 Kitchen, Sambuca, and many more.

Jefferson Street Sound Museum

2004 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208

The Jefferson Street Sound Museum in Nashville was established in 2011 by Lorenzo Washington. The museum is dedicated to preserving the rich musical and entertainment history of Jefferson Street, which was a vibrant hub for jazz, blues, and R&B from the 1940s through the 1970s. Located near Fisk University, the museum features a collection of historic artifacts and offers insights into the legacy of Jefferson Street's music scene

John Hope and Aurelia Elizabeth Franklin Library

1012 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

The John Hope and Aurelia Elizabeth Franklin Library was built in 1969 and opened in 1970, replacing the Cravath Library as the central library on campus. The library is 71,825 square feet and is a 3-story concrete building, in keeping with the more modern architecture style of buildings completed at Fisk in the 1950s and 60s. Since 2000, the library has been named after the influential historian, author, and former Fisk professor John Hope Franklin and his wife, and fellow writer, Aurelia Whittington. The library holds over 240,000 volumes, and is well-known for its Special Collections and Archives, which contains some of the oldest and most definitive collections of African American history and culture.

John Robert Lewis

611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Born to sharecropper parents in Troy, AL on Feb. 21, 1940, John Lewis (1940-2020) moved to Nashville in 1957 to attend American Baptist Theological Seminary. He began attending non-violence workshops at Clark Memorial Methodist Church with Rev. James Lawson, and became a prominent member of the Nashville Student Movement during the civil rights sit-ins. Lewis also participated in the Freedom Rides in 1961, served as chair of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), spoke at the March on Washington in 1963, was injured on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL during a voting rights campaign, and served for 17 terms in Congress, representing Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020.

John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

108 First Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201

The Sparkman Street Bridge was built from 1907 to 1909, connecting East Nashville to downtown. Howard M. Jones was the lead engineer while Foster-Creighton Company and Gould Contracting of Louisville led construction. The structure was an engineering achievement, featuring the first use of reinforced concrete trusses in the United States. This method supported the weight of streetcar traffic and later held the weight of rush hour traffic throughout the twentieth century. The bridge closed to road traffic in the 1990s, later reopening as a pedestrian bridge with excellent views of the river and downtown. Called Shelby Street Bridge after the street name changed from Sparkman, the bridge was later renamed the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in 2014 in honor of Nashville journalist John Seigenthaler (1927-2014). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

John Sevier State Office Building

500 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37219

The John Sevier Building State Office Building was the final project to use Public Works Administration (PWA) funding for its construction in Tennessee. Designed by Emmons H. Woolwine (1899-1951) and Frederic C. Hirons (1882-1942) and completed in 1940, the exterior is Indiana limestone while the interior features Art Deco detailing such as elegant bronze grilles, doors, and panels. It features murals by Dean Cornwell (1892-1960) which depict scenes from Tennessee’s history. The building was named for John Sevier (1745-1815), first governor of Tennessee. As of 2019, this streamlined Classical style building housed the offices of the Attorney General of Tennessee. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Johnny Cash Museum

119 Third Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201

Johnny Cash (1932-2003) was born on a cotton farm in Kingsland, Arkansas. An actor, author, guitarist, and singer-songwriter, Cash performed rockabilly, blues, gospel, folk, and rock and roll. His most popular hits include "I Walk the Line," "Man in Black," and "Ring of Fire." Cash married singer-songwriter and member of the Carter Family June Carter (1929-2003). Cash died in 2003 just four months after her passing. The Johnny Cash Museum features many artifacts and memorabilia from Cash’s life and career, including some from the artist’s former home in Hendersonville, Tennessee as well as from the former Hendersonville museum House of Cash. Cash’s friends Shannon and Bill Miller opted to open a new museum in downtown Nashville in 2013 after House of Cash fell into disrepair.

Jubilee Hall

1000 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Jubilee Hall, designed by Stephen D. Hatch, was completed in 1876, the first permanent building on the Fisk campus. It was funded by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who toured worldwide to raise funds for the school. Jubilee Hall was established as an undergraduate housing facility and is recognized as the first permanent structure in the American South intended for the education of Black students. The exterior design has not been considerably altered, but the interior facilities were modernized in 1965. Jubilee Hall still operates as a residence hall today. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Judge John Catron House

217 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Judge John Catron (1786-1865) served as associate justice on the United States Supreme Court from 1837 to 1865. Throughout Catron's legal career, he fought to preserve the Union and the values of the United States Constitution. The judge was forced to flee Tennessee due to his pro-Union stance during the outbreak of the Civil War. He returned in June 1862 when the Federal occupation allowed him to convene United States District Court in Nashville. The central-hall brick I-House with Greek Revival portico where he lived was out of vogue by the Civil War and represents architecture from the years he was most active in Washington, D.C.

Judge Miles House

631 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

Juno Frankie Pierce

130 Josephine Holloway Ave.

Juno Frankie Seay was born enslaved c. 1864 in Smith County, Tenn. She attended John G. McKee Freedmen's School and Roger Williams University, both in Nashville, and later taught at the Belleview School for African American children. She married Clement Pierce and moved with him to Texas, returning to Nashville after his death. A member of church and secular women's clubs, Pierce was an active suffragist and a fierce advocate for African American girls' education. She founded the Tennessee Vocational School for Colored Girls and the Nashville Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, and helped raise funds for the Blue Triangle Branch of the YWCA. A member of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, Pierce died in 1954 and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery.

K&S World Market

4225 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

In 2004, James Sun opened K&S World Market, an international market filled with different international foods and Asian cuisine. After immigrating from China in 1998, James Sun wanted a broader selection of international markets to choose from in Nashville. Sun soon upgraded the store and switched to a new facility. Located in South Nashville, the market provides a myriad of different packaged snacks, fresh produce, and even daily fish and meats that are prepared right in store. The K&S World Market has since opened another location in West Nashville.

Kayne Switchyard and Clement Landport

1101 Demonbreun Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Named after Kayne Street, now Eleventh Avenue, Kayne Switchyard was once a bustling hub of train connections. It fell into disuse after passenger trains discontinued service in Nashville in the 1970s. In the 1990s, city officials attempted designating the area the Clement Landport. Named for Bob Clement (1943-), a major supporter of the project, the multimodal transit hub was one of the early efforts to revitalize downtown that failed. In the 2000s, the prominent Turner family and Gulch development company MarketStreet Enterprises started a redevelopment project that took hold. As of 2019, plans to use the landport as a base for a pedestrian bridge connecting the Gulch with South Broadway (SoBro) have been in the works.

Kean Hall

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Kean Hall was built in 1951 at a cost of $1,500,000; it is one of the campus’ only Art Deco-style buildings. The Hall was home to the basketball program until that program was moved to the Gentry Center in 1980. From 1987, it has housed the volleyball program. In 1991, a renovation connected Kean Hall to the then-new Otis L. Floyd and Joseph A. Payne Campus Center. Kean Hall currently houses the volleyball program, the Air Force ROTC program and several other campus programs and offices. Outside Kean Hall, a static display of a USAF T-38 Talon airplane can be seen. This display is on loan from the National Museum of the United States in honor of General Lloyd “Fig” Newton, who was commissioned as a distinguished graduate through Tennessee State University’s ROTC program in 1966 and went on to become the University’s only four-star general.

Kingdom Cafe and Grill

2610 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208

Kingdom Cafe and Grill was opened in 2016 by Howard Jones Jr, the senior pastor of the Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church in Goodlettsville. He felt as though having just having a building that is open Sunday's and Wednesday's was not the only way a church should help its community. With the help of his son, Howard Jones II, and the staff, fifteen of whom were previously incarcerated individuals, the restaurant has served the community well. The southern/soul food found at Kingdom Cafe and Grill is a comfort to all who eat there.

L&C (Life and Casualty) Tower

401 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

Designed by Edward A. Keeble (1905-1979), the Life and Casualty Tower was the first major building constructed in Nashville after World War II and was Nashville's first post-war skyscraper to be erected. The office building has thirty-one floors at 409 feet tall and was Nashville's tallest building from 1957 until 1970. It was composed of limestone walls, granite, green glass, and aluminum window fins. Keeble's seven million dollar office building has a dark marble, Art Moderne style entrance and four-story lobby. Neon "L&C" letters were employed at the top of the structure as a corporate symbol and changed colors according to each day's weather forecast.

Lake Watauga

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

Constructed for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition of 1897. It covers approximately five acres and is irregularly shaped. The lake also contains a small island that is covered with trees, shrubbery, and various types of flora at its north date to the early period of the park. Much of the rough-cut stone that lines the edge of the lake appears to be original, although some changes have been made where a boat dock once sat on the east side of the lake. Two small foundations are dated in the early period of the park. The Park Board stocked the lake with fish, planted flower gardens and shrubs, built drives and walkways, and reopened it in 1903.

Laura Averitte Amphitheater

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Located in the center of campus, the Laura Averitte Amphitheater was designed in 1990 and constructed sometime between 1995 and 1998. It visually unites several separate phases of construction and planning at Tennessee State University. The original campus was located on the north side of Centennial Boulevard. Beginning in 1931, several buildings were constructed south of Centennial Boulevard, with the street bisecting the campus. Over time, upgrades to the area were made: a rock-wall was initially installed along the street, sidewalks were added around 1993, and a bridge over the street connected the two sides of campus until it was town down in 1996. Shortly thereafter, construction of the Amphitheater was completed.

Liberty Park

1188 Cumberland Drive, Clarksville, TN 37040

Liberty Park officially opened on October 23, 2012. Commissioned by the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department, the public park is home to a fishing pond, dog park, community-built playground, sports fields, walking trails, the Clarksville Marina, and a boat ramp into the Cumberland River. The Freedom Point Event Center is also located in Liberty Park, with a monument to basketball coach Pat Summitt in front that was unveiled in 2018. The Wilma Rudolph Event Center is located near the entrance to the park, and features and statue and quotes from Rudolph.

Light Meander

West Riverfront Park, Nashville, TN

Drawing inspiration from the Demonbreun Street terminus, Light Meander stands forty-five feet tall, spans three feet, and is twelve inches thick. Artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan used hardwood, stainless steel plates and tubes, acrylic rods as well as color-changing LED lights. The sculpture combines the fluidity of the Cumberland River and rigidness of Downtown while simultaneously combining past and present as well as natural and urban. The lights on the structure are programmed to change for specific events such as holidays and local dates of importance. The sculpture was commissioned by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission in 2015.

Lindsley Hall

730 President Ronald Reagan Way, Nashville, TN 37210

Lindsley Hall was built in 1854 to house the University of Nashville. Soon afterwards it was sold to the Western Military Institute, and after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1862, it was converted into a hospital for Union soldiers. The building was designed by Prussian-born architect Adolphus Heiman in the Gothic-Revival style, and the building's use reverted back to educational purposes after the war. From 1945 to 1974, it became the home of the Nashville Children’s Museum. Today, Lindsley Hall houses the governmental offices of the Nashville Metropolitan Government.

Lipscomb University

1 University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204

Lipscomb University Downtown Spark Campus

147 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Originally called the Nashville Bible School, Lipscomb University was founded in 1891 on Granny White Pike. Lipscomb University, which is associated with the Church of Christ, graduated its first senior class in 1948. Located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Commerce Street, Lipscomb University's Downtown Spark provides over 20,000 square feet of collaborative, flexible space designed for creative, service, and entrepreneurial projects. A large studio is used for lectures or presentations and features digital media capabilities. The space can also be divided into six smaller break-out rooms. The facility features a media lounge as well. This campus extension hosts classes for Lipscomb’s graduate programs in business administration and public service. As of 2019, the main campus is still located on Granny White Pike.

Lipstick Lounge

1400 Woodland Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37206

Christa Suppan and Jonda Valentine opened the Lipstick Lounge on September 4, 2002. Valentine originally pitched the idea to her sister and their respective girlfriends at the time while living as a portrait artist in East Nashville. After opening the bar, Valentine asked Suppan, who was working as a server at the bar, to be her business partner. In March 2020 the bar was damaged by a tornado, but through crowdsourced funds they were able to restore the building. As of 2022, it is the only lesbian bar in Tennessee and one of the few remaining in the United States.

Little Jimmy Dickens Statue

116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Commissioned in 2017 by the Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc, the Little Jimmy Dickens (1920-2015) statue was made by sculptor Ben Watts. The life size bronze sculpture stands in the Ryman Auditorium plaza and reminds visitors of the impact Dickens had on country music. Dickens became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1948, when the Opry was still at the Ryman Auditorium. He last performed on the Opry in late 2014, just days before his death in January 2015. The statue was unveiled in recognition of the Ryman Auditorium's 125th anniversary.

Little Sisters of the Poor

1400 Eighteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged was built on Eighteenth Avenue South in 1916, decades before the area was known as Music Row. The building was designed by Christian Albert Asmus (1865-1954), a prominent local architect who designed over five-hundred buildings in Nashville between 1892 and 1945. The home was a nursing home for senior citizens who lacked family and/or financial means for elder care. Since 1989, it has housed music industry related businesses, most notably Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The building was sold to Vanderbilt University for twelve million dollars in 2015. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Little Theatre

998 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208

The Little Theatre stands as the oldest extant structure on Fisk University’s campus. Built originally around 1860 as a Union Army hospital barracks, the building became known as the “Railroad Hospital” during the course of the Civil War, due to its location near the railroad lines in what is now the trendy Gulch neighborhood.In 1873, the building was moved to its current position, and in 1935, Fisk University renovated the building into a performing arts space for student production. The Little Theatre remains in use to the present day for student and community use.

Livingstone Hall

1701 Jackson St., Nashville, TN 37208

New Livingstone Hall is one of Fisk University’s residence halls. Livingstone Hall was completed in 1966 and currently houses a mixture of around 250 freshmen male residents and a selection of upperclassmen. The hall is a four-story brick structure and also houses a second floor computer lab as well as basement classrooms typically used for theater and dance classes. The original Livingstone Hall, also a residence hallb, was uilt in the late nineteenth century and replaced by New Livingstone in 1966. The original cornerstone can still be seen in front of the current building.

Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School

613 Seventeenth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203

Mary's Old Fashioned Pit BBQ

1106 Jefferson Street Nashville, TN 37208

Mary’s Old Fashioned Pit BBQ was originally opened in 1962 by Mary Seals (1940-2023), and has been family-owned since then. It is a staple barbecue restaurant in Nashville and is very popular today. It has been owned by Katresa Fizer since 2010. The building is located on Jefferson Street in the historic African American Business District, and serves as a key part of African American history in Nashville.

Maxwell House Hotel

201 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The Maxwell House Hotel was once the center for political and social life in Nashville. Construction began in 1859 using slave labor and was halted during the Civil War. Completed in 1869, the luxury hotel had five stories, 240 rooms, and cost $500,000 to complete. Corinthian columns lined the main entrance on Fourth Avenue. This notorious part of the notorious Men's Quarter was not considered proper for a lady to enter, so women had to use a separate entrance. Local lore says that Theodore Roosevelt once stayed at the Maxwell House and commented that the coffee was "good to the last drop," thus creating the slogan for Maxwell House Coffee, the nation's first blended coffee. The hotel burned down on Christmas night 1961.

May Hosiery Mills

429 Chestnut Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

German immigrant Jacob May (1861-1946) established the May Hosiery Mill in 1909. The company manufactured hosiery, stockings, and socks for the majority of the twentieth century. At its peak, the mill produced one million socks per week. Beginning in 1936, Jacob’s son Mortimer May (1892-1974) took several trips to Germany to help facilitate the escape of Jewish relatives, friends, and neighbors, and many were subsequently employed at the mill. In the early 1960s, May Hosiery received a special request from the United States Government to make socks for the Apollo program, and, consequently, participating astronauts wore all-cotton socks manufactured at the mill. The mill closed in 1983, but the building was set to be redeveloped to house a hotel, Apple Music, and other businesses as of 2019.

McClellan Store

231 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The building that housed McClellan's was built in 1882 as a store front to house Ocean Confectionary until the mid-1920s, when McClellan's came to the location in 1927. McClellan's was a five and dime store, which was involved in the 1960 lunch counter sit-ins. The store closed for a short period of time for remodeling but reopened in May 18, 1942. The store stayed open into the 1980s. It is a three-story building in the commercial Italianate style. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s as a part of the Fifth Ave Historic District.

McKendree United Methodist Church

523 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

The first United Methodist Church in Nashville was built on this site in 1833, dedicated by the first American-born Methodist Bishop, William McKendree (1757-1835). It was the site of President James K. Polk's (1795-1849) funeral in 1849 and the inaugurations of several Tennessee governors. In June 1850, the church hosted the Nashville Convention. Delegates from nine Southern states discussed the sectional crisis around territories that were acquired during the Mexican War. The Classical Revival-style building that stands on the site today was built in 1910. The current facade, designed by the Wilson and Odum firm, brought the church fifty feet closer to Church Street in 1967.

McKissack House

1503 Edgehill Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Built in the early 20th century, the home at 1503 Edgehill Avenue was the personal residence of architect Moses McKissack III, co-founder of McKissack & McKissack. It served as both his home and professional base, continuing the legacy begun by his grandfather. Originally a private residence, it remains in the McKissack family today. The surrounding Edgehill neighborhood became a hub for Black professionals and creatives. The home stands as a symbol of enduring legacy and Black excellence.

Meharry Medical College

1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208

Meharry Medical College opened in 1876 through funding by Samuel Meharry and his brothers. Opening as the medical department for Central Tennessee College, it served as the first medical school for African Americans in the South. Denistry and pharmaceutical studies were added to the curriculum, and the school became chartered separately in 1915. Graduate-level research and courses were offered in 1938, and in 1947, the college offered its first graduate degree, a Master of Science. In 1972, it would begin offering a Ph.D. program and, in 1982, an M.D./Ph.D. program. Meharry Medical College now offers an abundance of medical degrees for people of color, specifically from disadvantaged backgrounds, following its mission to combat health disparity.

Meigs Middle School

713 Ramsey St, Nashville, TN 37206

Meigs School was built inside a former Confederate gun factory. The building became the first school for African Americans in Nashville after the Civil War once it was built in 1883. The school graduated the first African American senior class in Nashville in 1888. The original building was destroyed by a tornado in 1933 and moved to its current location on Ramsey Street. Meigs School became one of the first magnet schools in Nashville in 1983. The Ramsey Street school was torn down in 2002 and renovated to hold its growing school population.

Men's Quarter

Church Street, Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37219

Located in the Printers Alley National Register Historic District, the Men’s Quarter was a block along Fourth Avenue between Church and Union Streets. Starting in the mid-nineteenth century, saloons, and other recreational establishments concentrated in this area and offered men places to dine, drink, and indulge in various vices. The Men’s Quarter was considered inappropriate for respectable women, and women would often go out of their way to avoid traversing the area. Prohibition took a toll on the businesses here, but the later twentieth century saw a resurgence of the entertainment district.

Merchants Restaurant

401 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203

The Queen Anne style building that once housed a pharmacy and hardware store became Merchants Hotel in 1892. In the twentieth century, country stars like Hank Williams (1923-1953), Patsy Cline (1932-1963), Loretta Lynn (1932-), Dolly Parton (1946-), and Roy Acuff (1903-1992) stayed here after performing at the Ryman Auditorium when it was the home of the Grand Ole Opry. The hotel operated until the 1980s and became a restaurant in 1988. In 2010, Merchants was on its last leg, but new investors brought life back into the business as downtown Nashville boomed once again. The Merchants building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as part of the Broadway National Register District.

Middle Tennessee State University

2650 Middle Tennessee Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Middle Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 as Middle Tennessee State Normal School. In 1925, the school was renamed Middle Tennessee State Teachers College when the degree program changed to four years leading to a bachelor of science degree. In 1965, the school was advanced to the university status and the name was changed to Middle Tennessee State University. In 1911, MTSU was a school of 100 acres, 125 students and a faculty of nineteen. As of 2021, MTSU is a school of over 500 acres, roughly 22,000 students and a faculty of over 900.

Mike Curb

48 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

Michael Curb (1944-) is an American record company executive, motorsports car owner, and politician.

Minnie Lou Crosthwaite

1700 17th Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37208

Born in 1860 in Nashville, Minnie Lou Crosthwaite’s life from her earliest years was surrounded by education. In 1865, she began her primary education at the newly opened Fisk Free Colored School, and she attended Fisk throughout her secondary education as well as her teaching education. Crosthwaite graduated from Fisk University in 1879 with her teaching degree, and she became the first African American to pass the teaching certification exam. Crosthwaite taught in the Nashville public school system for 14 years and, alongside her husband, was a staunch advocate for racial equality. She died in Detroit in 1937.

Morris Memorial Building

330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37201

The Morris Memorial Building, a Classical Revival style office building, was designed by the McKissack and McKissack architecture firm. McKissack and McKissack was the first architecture firm owned by African Americans in the United States. Four of their buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, including the Morris Memorial Building. Most of the exterior and interior remains original. The building was constructed as the Sunday School Publishing Board for the National Baptist Convention. An African-American-owned business itself, McKissack and McKissack established offices in the building along with several other African-American businesses. The area was the heart of the African-American business district until the mid-twentieth century, when many businesses were forced to relocate as part of the Capitol Hill Redevelopment Project. Morris Memorial is the only building associated with that time period still standing.

Morris and Stratton Building

218-220 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

The son of Thomas Stratton Senior, who moved to Nashville in 1818, Thomas Edward Stratton (c.1800s) opened a wholesale grocery with Kindred J. Morris (1819-1884) in the consequently name Morris and Stratton Building in 1854. During the Union occupation of Nashville beginning in 1862, it was used as one of twenty-five Union Military Hospitals in the city. In the summer of 1963, the building housed 450 cots and 301 patients. Other than the façade, the building was demolished. The old street number, fourteen, remains on United States Federal shield on the cast iron columns that flank the former entrance.

Moskovitz Second Hand Shop

111 Fourth Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37203

The Moskovitz family settled in Black Bottom, a former Nashville neighborhood comprised of poor white immigrants, in the 1870s along with immigrants and African American families. Attempting to support their growing families, the Moskovitz men opened a second hand shop that performed well. Their fortune did not last as adultery and murder divided the family. The brothers Barney and Clyde Moskovitz later worked together in business, but the family never escaped the notoriety of Barney’s crimes and Clyde’s madness. As of 2019, the Moskovitz Second Hand Shop was the Swingin’ Doors Saloon.

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church

1112 Jefferson Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37208

Established in 1866, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. The church was founded by Reverend Jordan Bransford and a group of worshippers. During Reverend Bransford's tenure, the church relocated multiple times. Eventually the church was housed on Jefferson Street due to the hosting of service at founding member Sister Mary Cole's home. The current church edifice was erected in 1905 at 1112 Jefferson Street under the administration of Reverend Sandy Matheus.

Municipal Auditorium

417 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201

The Bijou Theater, attended by Black audiences, was torn down in 1957 during Nashville's urban renewal to make way for the construction of the first modern auditorium in the city. The Municipal Auditorium, designed by Marr & Holdman, was completed in 1962 and seated 9,000. It functioned as a concert and sports venue and was the first public venue in Nashville to have air-conditioning. It held concerts by Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and Fleetwood Mac, in additon to hosting sporting events that included basketball, gymnastics, and ice hockey; the 1994 US World Gymnastic Championships and the 1996 Tour of World Figure Skating Champions were held in the auditorium. In 2013, the auditorium began to house the Musician Hall of Fame and Museum after the constuction of the Music City Center.

Music City Center

201 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

With the support of former mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Karl Dean (1955-), the Metro Council, and a coalition of local business leaders, community activists, and residents, ground was broken for the Music City Center on March 22, 2010 following a 2004 studying recommending additional convention space in downtown Nashville. The sixteen acre, $623 million site spans from Demonbreun Street to Korean Veterans Parkway between Eighth and Fourth Avenues. The area was once known as Black Bottom because of the dark mud left behind after frequent floods. Opening in May 2013, the convention center hosted events such as CMA (Country Music Association) Fest, Music City Sports Festival, and the NHL (National Hockey League) All-Star Weekend festivities.

Music City Walk of Fame Park

400-498 Demonbreun Street, Nashville, TN 37203

The Music City Walk of Fame Park stood across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The park featured inset engraved tiles dedicated to individuals who have made a significant contribution to music by any means and who are connected to Nashville. With help from founding sponsor Gibson Brands, the Walk of Fame was established in 2006. Closing for reconstruction in 2014, the park reopened in 2015. Inductees range from the Fisk Jubilee Singers and Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) to Dolly Parton (1946-) and Martha Ingram (1935-).

Music Row Neighborhood

1600 Seventeenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Since its inception, the Music Row neighborhood has been the heart of Nashville’s music industry, home to multiple record labels, recording studios, and booking agencies. The area was originally part of the Acklen Estate until the land was sold for development in the late 19th century. Radio stations moved to the Row in the 1940s and brothers Owen and Harold Bradley opened the first recording studio in 1954 at 804 Sixteenth Avenue South. The popularity of country music attracted other music businesses to the area which became home to major studios like RCA Studio A and Studio B. These studios, among others, helped develop the unique Nashville Sound.

Musica Statue

1600 Division Street, Nashville, TN, 37212

A group of anonymous art patrons commissioned Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire (1955-) to create Musica, unveiled in 2003. It is the largest bronze figure group in the United States, with the dancing figures reaching nearly forty feet in the air. The bronze nude figures stand on a base made of natural limestone boulders. The purpose of the sculpture was to capture the role music plays in Nashville by representing all forms of music without any reference to one particular genre. The multicultural figures are exuberantly dancing, rather than playing instruments, because LeQuire sees dance as "...the physical expression of music." Various groups often dress the figures in thematic outfits for holidays or sporting events, like Nashville Predators playoff games or the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon.

Musician's Corner

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

Inspired by the Speaker's Corner in London's Hyde Park, a global music landmark and community gathering space was created in Centennial Park in 2010. It provides free public access to live music performances, showcasing artists such as Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, Vince Gill, and more. Musician's Corner is part of a program of Centennial Park Conservatory, aiming to preserve, enhance, and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park. In 2014, as part of a multi-phase Centennial Park restoration project, construction began on a permanent venue for Musician's Corner in the southwest corner of Centennial Park. It reopened to the public in 2016.

Nashville Centennial

801 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203

The Nashville Centennial Exposition began on April 24, 1880, and ran through May 29. A temporary building, designed by William C. Smith (1837-1899) and costing over twenty thousand dollars, was constructed with the purpose of housing exhibits celebrating Nashville’s progress over its first one-hundred years. The building stood directly across from the historic Customs House on the southeast corner of what was then Spruce Street, now Eighth Avenue, and Broad Street, now Broadway. During the Exposition, events such as parades, speeches, and firework shows were held both at the building and throughout the city. A statue of Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was unveiled of on the grounds of the State Capitol as well. As of 2019, the site was occupied by a federal courthouse.

Nashville City Cemetery

1001 Fourth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

After the 1822 purchase of four acres of land near the bottom of St. Cloud Hill from John Cockrill (1757-1837), Peyton Robertson (1742-1814), and Richard Cross, the City of Nashville opened the City Cemetery. Designed by the famed architect William Strickland (1788-1854), the cemetery later expanded to twenty-seven acres. Approximately 22,000 people are buried at the City Cemetery including approximately 6,000 African Americans, ranging from slaves and freedmen. There are more than 2,000 unnamed infants also interred. During the Civil War, the cemetery temporarily held Union and Confederate soldiers. In 1958, Nashville Mayor Ben West (1911-1974) led an effort to restore and preserve the cemetery. The City Cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Nashville Craft Distillery

514 Hagan Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Opening in 2016, Nashville Craft Distillery produced small-batches in their Wedgewood-Houston location. Formerly a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) laboratory director, Bruce Boeko (1969-) used his science background to open the distillery that focuses on using local and regional ingredients. Nashville Craft features a Naked Biscuit Sorghum Spirit, using the Tennessee crop sorghum, and a Crane City Gin, a nod to Nashville's ever-growing crane presence. The distillery has partnered with Jim Massey and Darren Briggs to produce the brand Fugitives Spirits, which features Gandhousier Tennessee Whiskey, Manifesto Tennessee Nascent Whiskey, and Tennessee Waltz Whiskey.

Nashville Farmer's Market

900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

The Nashville Farmers' Market, founded in 1802, is located in the urban core of downtown Nashville adjacent to the Tennessee State Museum and Bicentennial Mall State Park. The year-round Market provides retail space to farmers, artisans and small businesses. The facility includes two covered open-air sheds, a 24,000 square-foot garden center, a culinary incubation center and international food hall that includes some twenty restaurants and shops.

Nashville Female Academy

Church Street and YMCA Way, Nashville, TN 37203

Occupying five acres extending north and westward, the Nashville Female Academy school was founded in 1817. The first principals were Dr. Daniel Berry and his wife, both originally from Salem, Massachusetts. It was considered the most prestigious school for women in the region. Classes were suspended in 1862 when Federal troops occupied the buildings, which were then used for offices, quarters, and a hospital. The school reopened the following semester in a different location as Lanier Female Academy. After 1865, the school returned to its original campus. Enrollment continued to decline, and the school closed permanently in 1878. After its closure, most local females attended Ward Seminary, which opened in 1865, Edgefield Female Academy, which opened in 1881, or Belmont College for Women, which opened in 1890.

Nashville First Baptist Church

108 Seventh Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

In 1886, Thompson and Zwicker designed the third iteration of the Baptist Church of Nashville, later called Nashville First Baptist Church, building. The structure was an excellent example of the Victorian Gothic style, with lancet windows, two towers, and molded pointed arched entrances. The current building was built in 1970 by Edwin Keeble, but retained one of the original Gothic towers. The remaining three-staged brick tower with stone trim has offset buttresses, an open belfry, and a tall spire clad in green copper.

Nashville General Hospital

1818 Albion Street, Nashville, TN 37208

Nashville General Hospital was opened on April 23, 1890 and served as a 60-bed “City Hospital.” Dr. Charles Brower was the first administrator and he established a nursing training school which functioned until 1970. This program was operated by Pennsylvania recruit Miss Charlotte E. Perkins. Since its creation, the hospital made several additions in 1913, 1914, and 1932. In January 1998, General Hospital relocated to the former Meharry-Hubbard Hospital building which is still its current location. A historical marker near the original site of General Hospital was erected in 1970 on Middleton Street just west of Academy Place.

Nashville Public Library

615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

The Neo-Classical style façade of the main branch of the Nashville public library system pays homage to the city’s architectural roots with its Ionic columns and central portico, while also incorporating modern details. The large bronze entry doors depict native plants and animals of Tennessee. Special collections on the second floor include local history in the Nashville Room, the Civil Rights Room, allowing visitors to explore an extensive Civil Rights collection, and a large collection titled "Votes For Women: the Legacy of the 19th Amendment." The third floor includes the Metro Archives collections and exhibits as well as the Grand Reading Room, which lined with a series of eighty hammered copper repoussé panels by Gregory Ridley detailing the rich history of Nashville.

Nashville Public Library East Branch

206 Gallatin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

The East Branch of the Nashville Public Library was opened on May 8, 1919 thanks to a $25,000 commission from Andrew Carnegie. The City of Nashville agreed to subsidize an additional $2,500 for maintenance of the site. Enduring through the natural disasters that struck East Nashville in the twentieth century, the branch reopened on April 30, 2000 after a complete renovation. The current branch manager is Sara Morse. The library branch has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and is a Metro Historic Landmark.

Nashville School of Law

1000 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203

The third floor of the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) Building, then located at Seventh Avenue North and Union Street, featured the John Hill Eakin Educational Institute. The institute offered courses in law, mechanical drawing, and business, and provided adult educational opportunities that the public school system could not yet support. In 1911, the Nashville YMCA Night Law School began in the same location. The founders, Morton Adams, William Cooper, Lee Douglas, and Robert Henry (1889-1970), were all graduates of Vanderbilt Law School. The school provided working adults the opportunity to earn a law degree. In 1927, the law school was incorporated as a non-profit educational corporation. In 1986, the name was changed to Nashville School of Law. Four years later, the school moved from the downtown YMCA to a new campus.

Nashville Slave Market

400 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37219

While the Public Square Park has long been a bustling area of recreation, administration, and commerce, it was also a site of oppression and displacement on behalf of the enslaved peoples that were bought and sold in the city. Located on the corner of Cedar and Cherry Streets, which are now Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Fourth Avenue respectively, slaves that were bought and sold at this market were often ushered through in a very callous, business-like manner. These dealers frequently took out ads in local newspapers to promote their business. Lines of credit could be taken out to finance purchases, and insurance for the transport of slaves could be purchased alongside insurance for other everyday needs.

National Life/ Grand Ole Opry

312 Rosa L Parks Ave, Nashville,TN, 37219

The National Life and Accident Insurance Company formed WSM radio that aired in 1925. WSM radio first played a wide variety of music, yet was most famous for hosting the the "WSM Barn Dance" that later became known as the Grand Ole Opry. Edwin Craig, President of National Life, was instrumental in the expansion of WSM, including the construction of the WSM radio tower south of Nashville. It was the largest transmitting device at its time in the U.S, making WSM a national station. The earliest years of the Grand Ole Opry included live performances by DeFord Bailey, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, amongst other influential musicians. WSM was later bought by Gaylord Broadcasting Company in 1983, ending local ownership for the Grand Ole Opry.

National Museum of African American Music

211 7th Ave North , Nashville, TN, 37219

The National Museum of African American Music broke ground in 2017. With 56,000 square feet and over 1,500 artifacts in its collection, the museum is designed to celebrate the influential role of African Americans in all genres of American music. The museum plans to open in the fall of 2020.

Nettie Napier Day Home Club

618 Fourth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37219

After years of jumping around, Nettie Langston Napier (1861-1938) found a permanent location for a day home club at 618 Fourth Avenue South in 1907. The club provided childcare, meals, education, and healthcare for children of poor, working African American mothers. Napier appointed a vice president for each of the city’s wards, each responsible for soliciting funds and donations. The wife of prominent banker, lawyer and public figure James C. Napier (1845-1940), Napier was a talented musician, avid social activist, and dedicated historic preservationist.

Never Never

413 Houston Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Never, Never opened in 2019 by brothers Bryan and Jamie Kenney. The bar occupied what was once Hines Welding and Repair Shop and strove to retain the industrial feel of the building’s former life. A sign from a former tenant was displayed on the wall, and a pair of decorative industrial fans adorned either side of a large loading deck door that served as a large window. Never, Never’s menu features straight-forward food options and a spirit list from which the bartender would craft a cocktail according to the customer's preferences.

New Life as a City Park at Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

Nineteenth Century Residences

104-106 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Sitting alongside other historic homes, the residential structure at 104 Fifth Avenue South, constructed around 1820, is considered one of the oldest residential buildings in downtown Nashville. Its two-story, symmetrical three-bay design in the Federal style was typical of middle-class urban residences. The adjacent building at 106 Fifth Avenue was built in 1880. The lower floors of both buildings housed commercial shops in the nineteenth century, including a cobbler shop and a drugstore, while the upper floors were for residential use. The houses were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 as part of the Broadway National Register District.

Noelle Hotel

200 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Designed by Marr & Holman, the Noel Hotel opened in 1930. After surviving the Great Depression, the original hotel closed in the 1970s. The rooms were remodeled into offices, calling for a name change to Noel Place. Re-opening its doors in 2017 as a hotel once again, the twelve-story renamed Noelle Hotel boasts few changes to its exterior while many of its Neoclassical design elements remains intact. Located in the center of downtown Nashville, hotel guests of both the early 1900s and now could easily access shopping, business offices, or the infamous Printers Alley National Register Historic District.

North Branch Library

1001 Monroe St.

Ocean Way Studios

1200 Seventeenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Allen Sides founded Ocean Way Studios in Santa Monica, California in 1974. In 1996, Sides and partner Gary Belz expanded the company to Nashville, purchasing the Gothic Revival Seventh-Day Adventist Church built in 1911. The church had previously been the headquarters of the Tony Alamo Christian Industries. The building's Gothic Revival architecture gave it a unique aesthetic, and the sanctuary has been converted into a recording studio large enough to hold a full orchestra. Artists such as Willie Nelson (1933-), Bob Seger (1945-), Sheryl Crow (1962-), and Christina Aguilera (1980-) have recorded there. In 2001, Belmont University purchased the Ocean Way building with a grant given to them by musician Mike Curb. The studio is still operated as a commercial space, but Belmont students can also use the space as a hands-on recording studio classroom.

Old Woman's Home

The West End Home Foundation began as the Old Woman’s Home in 1889 as part of the Nashville Relief Society. Prominent Nashvillians organized to establish a residential facility for elderly women. Founders created a board of directors, auxiliary committee, and received a state charter in 1891. First located downtown on present day Fourth Avenue, a new building was constructed on West End Avenue, near Vanderbilt University, in 1909. In 2009 the remaining nine residents were moved to a nearby retirement community. In 2013, the last resident passed away, the organization also changed names from Old Woman’s Home to West End Home Foundation (WEHF). The WEHF continues to award annual grants exceeding one million dollars total to support senior-related causes but no longer operates a residential facility.

Opry Mills

Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214

From 1972 to 1997, the current site of Opry Mills was originally the Opryland Theme Park. The park was acquired by Gaylord Entertainment in 1995, which initially did not intend to change the theme park. However, after a significant investment from the Mills Corporation, the Gaylord Entertainment group announced the closure of the Opryland Theme Park in October 1997. The park's last day of operation was December 31, 1997, and it was not until May 2000 that Opry Mills opened its doors.

Owen Bradley Park

1 Music Square East at Division Street

Until the 1950s, the Owen Bradley Park property was a Double Eagle Service Station. In 1974 the space was transformed into a Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County park through a city planning project funded by a federal grant. Originally named Music Square Park, the park was dedicated to country music producer Owen Bradley (1915-1998) for his work in the country music industry. A statue of Bradley was added to the park in 1999, created by artist Gary Ernest Smith. The statue is made of bronze and is meant to capture Bradley's jubilant musical style. The park is across from the Musica statue on the Music Row roundabout, welcoming visitors to Music Row.

PLA (Pam Lewis and Associates) Media

1303 Sixteenth Avenue South A, Nashville, TN 37212

In 1985, Pam Lewis left RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Records to start her own music industry public relations firm, Pam Lewis and Associates, later shortened to PLA Media. Lewis, a staunch preservationist, bought buildings at 1303 Sixteenth Avenue South in the 1990s and renovated them to become offices. This renovation awarded Lewis a Certificate of Merit from the Tennessee Historical Commission. Lewis’ first client was the now-superstar Garth Brooks in 1987. She also managed Trisha Yearwood (1964) in her early career, including during Yearwood's 1991 self-titled debut. Today, PLA Media works on campaigns and creative projects with artists, restaurants, charitable organizations, and museums.

Park-Johnson Hall

1699-1601 Phillips St., Nashville, TN 37208

Park-Johnson Hall, built in 1954, is one of Fisk University’s classroom buildings. The three-story brick and glass building houses a variety of classrooms, a lecture hall, and offices. Park-Johnson Hall is named after two influential sociologists with connections to Fisk. Robert E. Park was an early pioneer in American sociology, and he taught at Fisk from 1933 until his death in 1944. Charles S. Johnson, also a sociologist and professor at the university, was the first Black president of Fisk University. He served as president of the university from 1947 to 1956.

Pat Summitt

4412 TN-12, Ashland City, TN 37043

Patricia Sue Head Summit (1952-2016) was born in 1952 in Clarksville, Tennessee. She played basketball at Cheatham County Central High School and the University of Tennessee-Martin where she became an All-American Player. She was head coach at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville from 1974-2012 and had a career total of 1,098 wins to 208 losses, the most of any college basketball coach. She was given Sports Illustrated’s Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, and was the only woman named on The Sporting News’ 50 Greatest Coaches of All-Time in 2016.

Patsy Cline Museum

119 Third Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201

Located above the Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum showcases many of the artist’s personal artifacts. The 4,000-square foot space was opened in 2017 by Bill Miller with the help of Cline’s family. Cline was born in 1932 in Winchester, Virginia. She recorded three albums and had two number-one songs in her short career. She successfully recorded songs across music genres, making her the first female to achieve such a level of crossover success. She died at the age of 30 in a plane crash. In 1973, she became the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Peafowl Theatre

1120 4th Ave N #101, Nashville, TN 37208

Robert "Bob" Henry Haury (1873-1932) remodeled this residential property into a small neighborhood theatre that opened in 1914. In the 20s, it was one of the theatres in Nashville that still allowed African Americans to attend. However, it shut down in either 1929 or 1930. In the years since, it has gone through several commercial reuses. In the 1950s, it was an advertising business called Outdoor Display, and in the early 2000s, it was a concrete supply company called John O. Hill Co. Currently, it is an Italian restaurant called the Little Hats Market. The lobby of the building still has a tile mosaic from when it was a theatre, depicting two peacocks and displaying the theatre's name.

Penny Campbell

1617 McEwen Ave, Nashville TN 37206

Penny Campbell was born in 1953 to two Civil Rights activists. She was a graduate of Vanderbilt Peabody College and Vanderbilt Divinity School. She organized the Tennessee group that marched at the second annual March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987. The following year, she helped to organize the first Nashville pride parade. Campbell was the lead plaintiff in Campbell v. Sundquist (1996), represented by Abby Rubenfeld, which overturned a Tennessee law criminalizing consensual, sexual acts between same-sex adults. For many years she was the director of residential services at the Park Center in Nashville which provides housing and recovery assistance to those suffering from mental illness. Campbell passed away in 2014 at the age of 61.

Perry L. Harned Hall

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Harned Hall was designed in Classical Revivalist Style and erected in 1927. It was named after Perry L. Harned, the first Commissioner of Education in the State of Tennessee. It was built was for the commercial department, a large assembly hall, science laboratories, and rooms for teachers. By 1949, the hall was devoted completely to biological sciences and was remodeled to accommodate more laboratories, lecture rooms, and storage. The building is now used for graduate biological studies as the undergraduate program has grown beyond the capacity of Harned Hall. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Plaza Mariachi

3955 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

In 2017 Mark and Diane Janbakhsh transformed an abandoned Kroger Shopping Center into a destination for food, culture, art, music, entertainment, and retail – all under one roof. This center for tourism and entertainment houses an art gallery, a Mariachi hall of fame, and live music and more. The plaza holds events, year-round, for children and their families, such as, arts and craft activities. They often host local talent along with both nationally and internationally recognized artists. They are locally known for their performances, these primarily being traditional genres of Mexican music and dance. Plaza Mariachi is well loved by the Nashville community.

Polar Bears

1200 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Constructed in 1930 by Giovacchino Mattei of Mattei Plaster Relief Ornamental Company, the four polar bears were paid for by T.B. Hughes for his newest shop, Polar Bear Frozen Custard. The bears were initially placed outside the store to encourage customers. When Polar Bear Frozen Custard closed in the early forties, Reverend Zema Hill (resident minister and funeral director) bought the statues and placed them in front of his funeral home. Around the time the funeral home closed in 1952, the bears were sold to nearby neighbors Michael Emrick and Phil Rush to display outside of their homes. In 2002, two bears were sold to the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency and placed permanently in Polar Bear Plaza. While a polar bear still stands outside the Emrick house, the location of the fourth polar bear is unknown.

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (South)

5814 Nolensville Pike #110, Nashville, TN 37211

In 1945, James Thornton Prince opened this restaurant, originally called the BBQ Chicken Shack, with the sole purpose of selling the accidental sensation: Nashville Hot Chicken. It was initially created by Prince's lover who, after becoming fed up with his promiscuous actions, sought revenge. She made him fried chicken with extra spices, hoping to garner a visceral reaction out of him. Instead, Prince loved it and chose to sell it. After his death, his great-niece, Andre Prince Jefferies, took over the establishment in 1980 and has been running it ever since.

Printers Alley National Register Historic District

Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201

The Printers Alley National Register Historic District has historically been a center of Nashville industry and entertainment. Publishing and printing thrived throughout the nineteenth century. Two of Nashville’s leading newspapers, the Nashville Tennessean and the Nashville Banner, had their headquarters in Printers Alley alongside print shops and publishers. In the decades following, saloons and other entertainment venues began popping up, most offering gambling, booze, and prostitution. The most famous venues include Jimmy Hyde's Carousel Club and Skulls Rainbow Room. Printers Alley exemplified rich architectural styles from the Victorian era to the modern era. The Printers Alley Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Quadrafonic Studios

1802 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Quadrafonic Studios began in 1970 when Elliot Mazer (1941-) struck a partnership with Norbert Putnam (1942-) and David Briggs (1943-) and purchased the house at 1802 Grand Avenue for $35,000. The name Quadrafonic derives from the studio’s ability to mix four channel audio. Many famous artists including Joan Baez (1941-), Neil Young (1945-), Dan Fogelberg (1951-2007), and Jimmy Buffet (1946-) recorded in Quadraphonic Studios. The studio expanded in the early 1980s after a change of ownership to Ron Kerr (1937-2015). Quadrafonic Studios was later sold to New York based Quad Studios in 1999. As of 2019, the studio was owned and operated by New York based Round Hill Music Publishing.

Quonset Hut Studios

34 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

Quonset Hut Studio started as a simple house. In 1954, the house was purchased by the Bradley brothers, Owen (1915-1998) and Harold (1926-2019), who renovated it into a recording studio. The studio is named for the military surplus Quonset hut the brothers affixed to the back of the studio during renovations. In 1962, the studio was purchased by Columbia Records, who renamed it to Columbia Studio B. The building ceased being used as a recording studio in 1982, and it was purchased by Mike Curb (1944-) in 2014. As of 2019, it was used by Belmont University to host classes as part of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Studio A

30 Music Square West, Number 100, Nashville, TN 37203

Contrary to the name, RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Studio A was established after the adjacent RCA Studio B. RCA Studio A was constructed in 1964 at the request of Chet Atkins (1924-2001) and the Bradley brothers. Since then, RCA Studio A has been used as a recording studio by many famous and influential musicians, including The Beach Boys, Loretta Lynn (1932-), B.B. King (1925-2015), and Dolly Parton (1946-). The iconic studio was nearly demolished in 2014 but a public outcry, spurred by an open-letter by musician Ben Folds (1966-), and the creation of the non-profit Music Industry Coalition (MIC) stopped the threat of demolition. In 2014 the building was purchased by Mike Curb (1944-), Chuck Elcan (1965-), and Aubrey Preston for $5.6 million. The studio is currently used by the Low Country Sound record label managed by Dave Cobb. The studio, also called the RCA Victor Studios Building, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Studio B

1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203

Due especially to the popularity of Chet Atkins (1924-2001), RCA (Radio Corporation of America) Victor Records needed to new place to record in Nashville in the early 1950s. As a result, RCA Victor constructed RCA Studio B, which would become one of the most important studios on Music Row, contributing significantly to the development of the Nashville Sound. RCA Studio B is best known for the large number of song recordings by Elvis Presley (1935-1977). Other significant recordings include "The Three Bells" by The Browns, "Crying" by Roy Orbison (1936-1988), and "Jolene" by Dolly Parton (1946-). After being donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992, Belmont University and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum co-operate the space.

RONE Mural

210-212 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Founded in 2016, the Nashville Walls Project has brought over fifteen artists to Nashville, providing them with the opportunity to leave their mark on the growing city. Originally a one-time event sponsored by Gibson Custom Division, event-turned-project was started by Eva Boros and Brian Greif (1960-). Street artist RONE, born Tyrone Wright (1980-), made his contribution to the project with a mural on Nashville's Cornerstone Building. The untitled mural depicts one of the Australian artist's signature portraits of an unnamed woman. The building was completed in 1894 and was designed by a Philadelphia architect and was constructed on the original site of Christ Church Cathedral.

Research and Sponsored Programs

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

This facility supports faculty research, funding, and innovation at Tennessee State University. The engineering school has a maker space lab where students and professors work on cutting-edge research ranging from robotics to artificial intelligence. This relatively new building represents the university’s commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Rev. Bill Barnes

1502 Edgehill Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Reverend Bill Barnes (1931-2017) founded the Edgehill United Methodist Church in 1966. A pioneer of its time, the coordinated church community encouraged desegregation of Nashville schools, fought against the Vietnam war, and campaigned for LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS rights. The church is still in use today.

Riddim n Spice

2116 Meharry Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37208

Brothers Kamal Kalokoh and Rashean Conaway have a rich history in the culinary arts. After working for their mother's restaurant, Jamaicaway, the brothers decided it was time to make one of their own. They established "Riddim n Spice" in 2014 and in September 2019 changed the form of their restaurant to a building in the general North Nashville area. Riddim n Spice has brought Caribbean cuisine to Nashville, along with some unique vegetarian and vegan options. They added 'The Rum Room" in 2022. Riddim n Spice is "an homage to the owners' Jamaican roots and love of all Caribbean culture."

Robertson Statue

276 25th Ave N Nashville, TN 37203

In 1903, the Robertson Monument was erected in Centennial Park. The monument’s towering 50-foot granite shaft is actually seven years older than its year of dedication. Major Eugene C. Lewis, the owner of the Nashville American newspaper and a consulting civil engineer, convinced the Tennessee Historical Society to erect the monument in honor of the city's founder, James Robertson and his wide Charlotte. He purchased all the materials for the monument.

Roger Williams University

1499 Twenty-First Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Roger Williams University was a historically black college incorporated in 1883 by Daniel W. Phillips (c. 1810-1890.) Originally established in 1866 as the Nashville Normal and Theological Institute, in 1882 it was renamed for Roger Williams (1603-1683), the founder of the first Baptist church in America. In 1874 it settled on a 28-acre campus next to Hillsboro Pike. It became the largest Baptist school for educating African-Americans. In 1905 a series of fires destroyed most of the school, which re-opened in 1908 at a new campus on Whites Creek Pike. In 1929, it merged with Howe Institute and relocated to Memphis.

Rose Park

1043 Edgehill Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Rose Park is named after E.S. Rose, an African American graduate from Fisk University, and a pastor at Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Constructed in 1960, the park is seeped in Nashville history. Nashville's first mayor and postmaster, Robert Brownlee Currey, built his house in this exact location, although it later burned down. The hill he lived on was later renamed Currey Hill in his honor and was later used during the Civil War as the Union's Fort Morton location. Rose Park remained relatively uneventful until 2010, when Belmont University offered to improve the facilities. Although there was significant pushback from surrounding residents, the university spent over $8 million between 2010-2011 on renovating the park. In exchange for the renovations, Belmont agreed to sponsor an E.S. Rose scholarship awarded to two Edgehill residents yearly. In 2020, Belmont renovated the park once again. Today, Rose Park is a public park that is also used by Belmont's soccer, track, softball, and baseball teams (despite resistance from Edgehill residents).

Rutledge Hill

100 Lea Avenue Nashville, TN 37210

The Rutledge Hill neighborhood encompasses eleven lots to the southeast of downtown on Lea, Middleton, and Rutledge Streets. The neighborhood’s name was derived from some of its earliest residents, Henry Middleton Rutledge (1775-1844), and his wife, Septima Sexta Middleton (1783-1865). It was Nashville’s first established suburb and was incorporated as South Nashville from 1850 to 1854 before becoming a part of the larger metropolitan area. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was nicknamed “College Hill” and was considered a center of education. Many of Nashville’s most prominent figures lived here, including former mayor Richard H. Dudley (1836-1914) and Captain Thomas Ryman (1841-1904).

Ryman Auditorium

116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The Ryman Auditorium took seven years and $100,000 to erect. Commissioned by steamboat captain Thomas Ryman (1841-1904), the Ryman was initially built as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892. The design by Hugh Cathcart Thompson (1829-1919) features a gabled roof, gabled front-entrance, and Gothic lancet windows, all in the Victorian Gothic style. The first concert at the auditorium occurred in 1892 as a fundraiser to save Andrew Jackson's home in downtown Nashville. Four years later, the famous Fisk Jubilee Singers performed. It is most famous for being the home of the Grand Ole Opry for thirty-one years. The Opry returned to the venue in 1999 to celebrate twenty-fives years at the Grand Ole Opry House and in 2010 when the house was undergoing repairs required after the Nashville flood. Now operating as Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc., the Ryman underwent extensive renovations in 2015. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and became a National Historic Landmark in 2001.

S. H. Kress & Co.

237 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Samuel Kress opened the first S.H. Kress (1863-1955) and Company store in Memphis in 1896. There were eventually 264 of these five-and-dime stores across the country, including one which opened in Nashville on North Summer Street, now Fifth Avenue North, circa 1900. That building was razed in 1935 and a new Kress building was constructed by Foster and Creighton on the same site, opening on February 18, 1936. Like other Kress stores built between 1929 and 1944, this building is notable for its distinctive Art Deco-style architecture. As of 2019, the building had been repurposed into loft apartments.

S.S. Kresge Learning Resource Center

2001 Albion St., Nashville TN 37208

The S. S. Kresge Learning Resource Center, built in 1983, is Meharry Medical College’s library and archives center. The Kresge Library houses the college’s extensive collections and archives concerning the history of the school and other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as well as its standard circulation materials. The Kresge Library was named for Stanley S. Kresge, an American businessman and founder of the Kresge department store chain (later K-Mart Corporation), who also founded the Kresge Foundation, "to promote the well-being of all mankind." The Kresge Foundation invests in the expansion of HBCUs, including Meharry Medical College. The building was renovated in 2012 by Kline Swinney Associates.

SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)

35 Music Square East, Nashville TN

SESAC (The Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) was founded in 1931 by Paul Heinecke (1922-1972). In 1940, they began going by the acronym SESAC, and it became one of the most well known performing rights organizations. At the beginning, SESAC worked with primarily European firms but eventually expanded into American publishers across multiple genres, along with television and film composers. Unlike other similar companies, SESAC does not offer open membership for performers, and they must be approved to join. In 1985 the international headquarters of SESAC moved from New York City to Nashville.

Sally Port of Fort Negley

Sally Thomas

315 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Sally Thomas (1787-1850) was born in 1787 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Around 1817, she and her two sons, John Thomas Rapier (1808-1869) and Henry (1809-1882), were sent to live in Nashville. Sally was known as a quasi-slave: she had the freedom to move about the city and to make money through a laundry business she started, but she was still considered to be the property of Charles Thomas. Sally had a third son, James P. Thomas (1827-1913), fathered by future Supreme Court Justice John C. Catron (1786-1865). Eventually Sally saved enough money to rent out a building at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Cherry Street, now Deaderick Street, where she operated her laundry business and a boarding house. Sally died of cholera in 1850 after she obtained freedom for all three of her sons.

Sarah Estell's Ice Cream Shop

217 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Sarah Estell, a free black woman, ran a very well-known and respected ice cream shop on Cherry Street, now Fourth Avenue, near McKendree Methodist Church. She provided ice cream, jellies, and other sweets. She later ran a boarding house at the same location. An 1848 newspaper article advertised that Estell was catering a fundraising supper for the new African Church and claimed her “...proficiency in this respect needs no commendation.” She was known to cater events for church socials, political fundraisers, and banquets for the city’s firemen.

Sarah Porter's School

217 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

In 1841, Sarah Porter Player opened a school in her home for African American children. Previously, Porter had taught with Daniel Wadkins and John Yandle at their school. When it closed, Porter opened her own school and hired Wadkins as her assistant. Wadkins opened a school in 1842, moving the location six times over the next fourteen years due to threats of violence. Both Wadkins' and Porter's schools closed for good in 1856.

Satsuma Tea Room

417 Union Street, Nashville, TN, 37219

Arlene Ziegler and Mabel Ward moved to Nashville from South Dakota and opened Satsuma Tea Room in 1918. They chose Nashville because of Ward’s previous experience in the city as a professor of home economics at George Peabody College for Teachers, later part of Vanderbilt University. They named their restaurant 'Satsuma,' the name of a variety of small oranges as well as the name for a type of pottery produced in Satsuma, Japan. They also published several recipe books, including the 1965 book Fun for the Cook. They sold the restaurant to David and Betty Smith, who continued to operate the restaurant until its closure in 2005. The building on 417 Union Street backs up to the historic Arcade between Fourth and Fifth Avenues North.

Scarritt Bennett Center

1027 Eighteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Prior to moving to Nashville in 1924, the Scarritt College for Christian workers was located in Kansas City, Missouri. Its aim was to train young women missionaries. When the school moved to Nashville in 1924, Nathan Scarritt donated land for the campus and Henry Hibbs (1882-1949) worked to design the buildings. In 1981 Scarritt College became Scarritt Graduate School. It was purchased by the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church in 1988, and the Scarritt Bennett Center was founded. The Scarritt Bennett Center is an advocate for social equality and empowerment for all, a goal reinforced by Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit and speech at the center in 1957.

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

1 Symphony Place, Nashville, TN 37201

Schermerhorn Symphony Center construction began in December 2003, coming to completion three years later. Named in honor of the Maestro Kenneth Schermerhorn (1929-2005), who led the Nashville Symphony for twenty-two years, the primary purpose of the Schermerhorn was to house the Symphony. It contains the 3,000-square-foot Mike Curb Family Music Education Hall. The Neo-Classical style building also features the 1,844-seat Turner Concert Hall which uniquely allows natural light to enter through soundproof windows. Featuring Indiana limestone, South Dakota granite and marble, and copper roofing, the building was designed primarily by David M. Schwarz Architects with Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. and Hastings Architecture Associates, LLC. also contributing to the project.

Second Avenue Commercial District

138 Second Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201

In the late nineteenth century, the Second Avenue Commercial District was the main business district in Nashville. Goods were transported from the Cumberland River into the warehouses on Front Street, later renamed First Avenue. Good were then sold out of the various stores on Market Street, later renamed Second Avenue, or delivered to nearby shops. The three- to four-story buildings in the district are mostly in the Italianate style, with elaborate cornices and arched windows. Some, like the Silver Dollar Saloon, feature Romanesque-influences such as its terra cotta frieze and accents, stringcourse molding, and turret with octagonal roof. The district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Shelby Park

1900 Davidson St. Nashville, TN 37206

Once occupied by Paleoindian, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippean cultures between 11,500 B.C. to 1600 A.D., the land known as Shelby Bottoms was used for farming until the modern era. Three well known farms included Oakland Farm, owned by the Barrick Family; Wild Acres, owned by the Henderson Family; and Fortland Farm, owned by the Fort family. It is this latter family whose property neighbored Dr. John Shelby's property, after whom Shelby Park is named. The Metro Council began to purchase land during the 1990s, and in 1994, it created and announced Shelby Bottoms as its primary greenway park. The park protects the rich river bottom land with boardwalks over streams and wetlands.

Shy's Hill

4619 Benton Smith Road, Nashville, TN 37215

Shy’s Hill was home to one of the most decisive battles of the Civil War. On December 16th, 1864, Confederate and Union forces met in the final major action of the Nashville area at the hill now known as Shy’s Hill near today’s Harding Pike. It was an overall defeat for the Confederate army with many casualties as the Union ended up with massive tactical and geographical advantages. The battle is also notable for the death of Confederate Lieutenant Colonel William L. Shy, for whom the hill named, a native of Williamson County who died while fighting to hold the line on top of the hill.

Silver Dollar Saloon

110 Second Ave N, Nashville, TN, 37201

Completed in 1893 and designed by Julian Zwicker, The Silver Dollar Saloon served riverboat men returning from the wharf of the Cumberland River. The Silver Dollar Saloon features Romaneque elements like the terra cotta frieze, stringcourse molding, and a turrent with an octagonal roof. The building then served as an art gallery before being used as the gift shop for the Hard Rock Cafe.

Skull's Rainbow Room

222 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201

Skyline Circuit View at Fort Negley

Slavery and Sunnyside

1113 Kirkwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37204

Smokey Row

Church Street on First, Second, Third, and Fourth Avenues, Nashville, TN, 37219

Smokey Row was the most significant red light district in Nashville during the Civil War. Before the war began, Nashville had already gained a reputation for its rampant prostitution. By the 1860s, nearly every building along a four block stretch of Church Street partook in the illicit business. As soldiers and civilians reported an increasing rate of venereal disease, the women of Smokey Row were blamed. After two major failed attempts to rid the city of prostitutes, Nashville Provost Marshal Lieutenant Colonel George Spalding (1836-1915) instituted a system of licensed prostitution.

Southern Methodist Publishing House

810 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203

In 1854, the Methodist Episcopal Church moved its publishing headquarters from Philadelphia to Nashville after being drawn to the more central location and the large number of congregations in the South. After moving locations several times within the city, a 1906 commercial style building was erected on Broadway. It is unique for its Neo-Classical decoration, especially the carved limestone entrance. The steel frame building, chosen to support the heavy printing equipment, was one of the first of its kind in the city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Southern Turf Saloon

222 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Erected in 1895 by Marcus Cartwright, the Southern Turf Saloon was as the last major saloon built in the Men’s Quarter of the Printers Alley National Register Historic District. Designed in the Queen Anne style, the Southern Turf was known for its opulence and was among the finest establishments in the city. Prohibition forced its temporary closure, and it enjoyed a new life as the headquarters of the Tennessean newspaper from 1916 until 1937. It began operating as a hotel again prior to World War II. As of 2019, was owned by Bill Miller, owner of the Johnny Cash Museum.

Spence Hall

1020 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Spence Hall houses much of Fisk University’s student and campus life offices and services. The hall houses Student Affairs offices, dining services, and the offices of several campus wide initiatives such as the Global Initiative and the Male Initiative. Since Spence Hall’s opening in 1959, it has existed as the center of student campus life. The hall has undergone several renovations throughout the decades, but the most recent renovation occurred in 2018 as the dining hall was renovated.

Spence Manor Motor Hotel and Webb Pierce Guitar Swimming Pool

11 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

The Spence Manor Motor Hotel, constructed in 1974, is a rare example of a Mid-Century Modern style featuring Brutalist architecture. Spence Manor was an upscale hotel that catered specifically to those in the music industry who sought luxurious, private accommodations. In 1979, the hotel acquired the adjacent Webb Pierce Swimming Pool, a unique 81-foot long guitar-shaped pool constructed by Webb Pierce (1921-1991) in 1977. Pierce was a country music vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of the 1950s. The hotel was converted into forty-four private condominium units in 1986, maintaining their ownership of the Pierce pool.

St. Cloud Corner

500 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

St. Cloud Hill

St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows

330 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Saint Mary of the Seven Sorrows was one of the first Catholic churches erected in Tennessee and remains the oldest extant church structure in Downtown Nashville, dating to 1844. German immigrant and architect Adolphus Heiman (1809-1862) designed the building in the Greek Revival temple style, featuring fluted Ionic columns and a Classical pediment. Nashville's first Roman Catholic Bishop, Richard Pius Miles, O.P. (1791-1860), is primarily responsible for the construction of the structure. Serving as a hospital during the Civil War, the church was not renovated until 1926 when the architecture firm Asmus & Clark updated both the interior and exterior of the church.

Starstruck Studios

40 Music Square West, Nashville TN

Three circa 1920 homes once stood on the lot at 40 Music Square West. One of the homes housed a 1960s Back'ere recording studio. When it was founded in 1988 by Reba McEntire (1955-) and her husband Narvel Blackstock (1956-), Starstruck Studios' purpose was to manage McEntire's management, publishing, promotion, fan club, and nearly every other aspect of her professional life. After expansion, Starstruck began developing and managing singers, songwriters, producers, and recording engineers. McEntire split from the company in 2016 following her divorce from Blackstock. As of early 2019, the company managed many artists including Blake Shelton (1976-), Kelly Clarkson (1982-), Hunter Hayes (1991-), and Cale Dodds (1988). Starstruck had two separate studios: The Pond and The Gallery.

Station Inn

402 Twelfth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

The Station Inn was opened in 1974 by a group of bluegrass singers and pickers-singers including Red Smith, Bird Lee Smith, Jim Bornstein (1932-2018), Bob Fowler, Charmaine Lanham, Marty Lanham and Ingrid Fowler. A mere four years later, the Station Inn moved to the location on Twelfth Avenue South. Since being purchased by JT Gray in 1981, the club has become known in the bluegrass scene as a modest venue at which the community can gather, attracting artists like Ricky Skaggs (1954-), Dolly Parton (1946-) and Reba McEntire (1955-).

Statue of W.E.B. DuBois

1000 17th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208

The Carl Van Vechten Gallery commissioned James Miles and Russell Faxon to sculpt and cast this statue of W.E.B. DuBois, one of Fisk University’s most notable alumni, in 1982. Co-founder of the NAACP, W.E.B DuBois was one of the most prominent African American authors and sociologists during his life. Located on Fisk University’s campus, this full-length statue depicts DuBois in a suit while holding two large books, and is meant to honor DuBois’ achievements as a civil rights activist.

Stones River Greenway

2330 Jackson Downs Boulevard

With its construction beginning in 2001, the Stones River Greenway is a ten-mile-long, linear park that connects the Shelby Bottoms Greenway with the Percy Priest Lake in East Nashville. The curvilinear path follows the Stones River, which is a tributary of the Cumberland River; it crosses the river twice via two pedestrian bridges. Furthermore, it crosses the former antebellum estates of the Clover Bottom Mansion, Two Rivers Mansion, and the site of Andrew Jackson’s Clover Bottom General Store. Andrew Jackson operated on the river before he became a military leader in 1812. The area was passed over from one owner to another until after World War II, when it was sold to the state of Tennessee. Stones River Greenway preserves the natural beauty and it historical significance.

Strange Performing Arts Center

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

In 1968, the Marie Brooks Strange Music Building at Tennessee State University was erected. It was the first building on campus dedicated entirely to music and consolidated the Music Department, which had been dispersed across campus. In 1988, Tennessee State University President Otis Floyd received $112 million from the Tennessee General Assembly for capital improvements, including the construction of a new Performing Arts Center. Between 2001 and 2005, a $9 million renovation project updated and combined the Marie Strange Music Building and Performance Arts Center. The current building houses the Music Department and Department of Communications, and contains a 360-seat theater, a recital hall, a television studio, an editing suite complex, and other facilities.

Suffrage Monument

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203

On August 26th, 2016, the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument, created by Nashville-based sculptor Alan LeQuire, was unveiled near the Partheon. The monument features five important suffragists from Nashville: Anne Dallas Dudley, Abby Crawford Milton, Frankie Pierce, Sue Shelton White, and Carrie Chapman Catt. Every year on Women's Equality Day, an event takes place at the monument to commemorate its erection.

Sunken Garden

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37232

Originally constructed for the 1897 Centennial Exposition, it was called Lily Lake until 1922. It was converted into a Japanese water garden and remained so until 1949. In the 1950s, it became the Sunken Gardens. Although plantings have changed over time and with seasonal variations, it contains many of the same types and general layout as the 1950s. A small bridge over plantings and drainage leads down into the east side of the garden. On the west side, concrete steps lead up and out of the garden. The gardens are located wet of Lake Watauga and north of the Parthenon. In 2023, in honor of her Eras Tour, Mayor John Cooper unveiled a bench dedicated to Taylor Swift in the Sunken Gardens.

Sunnyside at Sevier Park

1113 Kirkwood Avenue, Nashville, TN 37204

This house was built c. 1852 for Mary Childress Benton, a cousin of Sarah Childress Polk. Stephen Childress and his wife owned the home during the Civil War, then sold it to Dr. L.G. Noel. Granville Sevier purchased the home from the Noel family in 1927. He renovated the house, built the one-story brick wings, and built the stone office. His heirs sold the property to the city of Nashville after his death in 1945. Sevier Park opened on this property in 1948. The community center was built in 1963 and the park added picnic shelters, tennis courts, a playground, and a basketball court. In 2010, the Nashville Historical Foundation office relocated here.

Surrender of Nashville

50 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37206

On Feb. 25, 1862, Nashville became the first Confederate state capital to fall to Federal forces. Two days prior, the 4th Ohio Vol. Cavalry arrived from Bowling Green, KY and set up pickets along the east bank of the river. Gen. D.C. Buell arrived by rail with about 9,000 men, and on Feb. 25, Gen. William Nelson and a flotilla carrying around 7,000 men arrived from the recent surrender at Fort Donelson. That afternoon, Mayor R.B. Cheatham surrendered the city to Gen. Buell.

T.M. Brennan Foundry

101 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201

The Brennan Foundry, also known as the Claiborne Machine Works, was on the southwest corner of Broadway and present-day First Avenue South. Prior to the Civil War, the foundry produced ornamental iron works. The ornamental iron work crowing the tower of the Tennessee State Capitol was cast here in 1855. During Nashville's nine months as a Confederate city, Brennan Foundry cast cannon tubes for the Confederacy, three of which are housed by the Tennessee State Museum. As of 2019, the building that was on the property, Acme Feed and Seed, was built around 1890.

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Taylor Swift Education Center

222 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Opening its doors in fall 2013, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Taylor Swift Education Center is the hub for the Museum's educational programming, made possible by Swift's four million dollar gift to the Museum during a campaign that doubled the Museum's size. The 7,500-square-foot Taylor Swift Education Center is spread over two floors and includes three classrooms, interactive galleries, and a distance learning lab. Each year, more than 100,000 learners of all ages participate in award-winning programs originating from the Museum's Taylor Swift Education Center.

Ted Rhodes

1901 Ed Temple Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

Ted Rhodes (1913-1969) was born in Nashville, TN. Rhodes taught himself to play the game since Black people were barred from private and city courses. He worked as a caddy for white golfers at the Belle Meade and Richland courses. He broke the color barrier in golf when he became the first African American professional golfer in 1948. That same year he became the first Black golfer to compete at the US Open. In 1952 the first golf course for African Americans was opened in Nashville, called Cumberland Gold Course, which was renamed for Rhodes after his death in 1969. Rhodes returned to Nashville in the 1960s and remained there until his death. The Ted Rhodes foundation was established in 1970 and continues to support young African American golfers.

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN, 37243

Founded in 1980, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center hosts a variety of performances in its three- theater facility. The project was intitially propsed by Martha Ingram to the state legistlature in 1972 in hopes to provide Nashville with a space to engage in the cultural arts and provide educational opportunities. The non-profit organization operates in a unique private-public partnership in a state-owned facility. TPAC is home to three resident performing groups: the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Tennessee Repatory Theater. In addition to hosting plays, concerts, and special engagenments, it also presents Broadway shows.

Tennessee State Capitol

600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37243

On top of Cedar Knob, with a commanding view of the Cumberland River and surrounded by a wide, curving boulevard flanked by government offices, sits the Tennessee State Capitol. Designed in the Greek Revival style by renowned architect William Strickland (1788-1854), the Capitol is made of Tennessee limestone and features Ionic columns on the porticos at each entrance and a cupola with ornate Corinthian columns. Strickland, who died during the construction of the building, is entombed in the south wall. The interior of the Capitol includes elaborate murals that portray the history of Tennessee, and the grounds contain statues and memorials to famous Tennesseans. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

Tennessee State Museum

161 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

Early records indicate that there was a museum in Nashville's public square as early as 1817. The Tennessee General Assembly did not establish the official museum, located in the War Memorial Building, until 1937. It relocated to the James K. Polk Center in 1981. A 137,000 square foot building opened in October 2018 near Bicentennial Mall State Park. The current building uses limestone, Tennessee Marble, bronze, and White Oak finished. The southeast corner features a curving façade with two-story glass windows and an upper veranda to simulate a front porch. The museum also owns and maintains the Lorraine Motel and neighboring properties in Memphis.

Tennessee State Prison

6404 Centennial Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Enoch Elliot (1858-1898) was appointed by the governor to build a new prison, in order to address issues of overcrowding. It opened in February of 1898. The old prison was demolished in June, and salvagable materials were used to construct various outbuildings. These outbuildings included a variety of plants, factories,and mills, as well as farmland, for the imprisoned labor force. The prison included separate facilities for female inmates. Despite it being much larger than the old prison, issues of overcrowding continued. In 1902, a fire destroyed the chair and carriage manufacturing plant, which was never rebuilt. In 1930, a new building for female prisoners was constructed. In 1958, a new maximum security building was constructed. The prison was closed permanently in 1992, and has since suffered tornado damage.

Tennessee State University

3500 John A Merritt Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37209

Tennessee State University Avon Williams Campus

330 Tenth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203

Tennessee State University (TSU) opened in 1912 as the first public institution of higher education for African Americans in Tennessee. In 1979, the University of Tennessee at Nashville merged with TSU. The original TSU campus, located in North Nashville, is designated as the Main Campus and the former University of Tennessee at Nashville campus was renamed in honor of Avon Nyanza Williams Jr. (1921-1994). Williams was a prominent African American lawyer, state senator, and member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He represented the plaintiffs in the 1972 case Geier v. Blanton, which centered on the accusation that two public universities in Nashville perpetuated a state of segregation in higher education. The court ultimately ruled in the plaintiffs’ favor.

Tennessee Supreme Court

401 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Built by the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1937 and designed by local architects Marr & Holman, the Tennessee Supreme Court Building is made of Tennessee marble and designed in the PWA Modern style with Art Deco detailing. The Tennessee Judiciary Museum, operated by the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, is located on the first floor. The state Supreme Court is comprised of five justices, with no more than two members from any one of the state's grand divisions, of which there are three: East, Middle, and West. The court, as required by the Tennessee constitution, convenes in each division, rotating between Knoxville, Nashville, and Jackson. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

Tennessee Technological University

1 William L Jones Dr, Cookeville, TN 38505

Tennessee Technological University was founded as the University of Dixie in 1909, led by the efforts of Jere Whitson who served as the first chairman. The state assumed control in 1915 and renamed the school Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. The Main Quad of the current campus sits on the original school acreage and includes Derryberry Hall, the oldest building on campus (named for former president Everett Derryberry) as well as the original men's and women's dormitories (Bartoo and Kittrell Halls respectively.) In 1965 the name was changed to Tennessee Technological University.

Tennessee Tribune

1501 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208

The Tennessee Tribune was founded by Rosetta Irvin Miller-Perry (1934- ) in 1991 and one of the most successful Black-owned newspapers in the South. The Tennessee Tribune is headquartered in the historic Universal Insurance building at 1501 Jefferson Street. Miller-Perry is a retired lawyer and public servant who served for 25 years with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She created the newspaper in order to highlight the contributions within the African-American community throughout the city, state, and nation. The Tennessee Tribune has a readership of over 150,000 people.

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The Arcade

65 Arcade Alley, Nashville, TN 37219

The Arcade opened in 1903 as Nashville’s first enclosed shopping area, meeting the demands of business owners and consumers alike. For the first time, customers did not have to worry about rain, traffic, and dirty streets when shopping, and the design allowed for more businesses to open within the space. There were two primary areas of the structure: the street level promenade and the second story mezzanine. When it opened, forty business including bakeries, jewelers, fruit sellers, and novelty shops opened their doors to shoppers. After a period of disrepair, the Acade became the center of Fifth Avenue of the Arts with over fifteen galleries located in the building as of 2019. Other tenants include shops, restaurants, and the historic Peanut Shop. The Arcade was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as part of the Fifth Avenue Historic District.

The Battle of Nashville at Sunnyside

The Connection

901 Cowan Street, Nashville, TN 37207

George Stinson and Ed Lewis opened The Connection in 1993 after operating a successful location in Louisville. Todd Roman came to Nashville on behalf of Stinson and Lewis to start the club. The original location was at Fifth Avenue and Demonbreun Street and in 1995 they moved to 901 Cowan Street. The new location was known for its size and over-the-top drag performances. Inside was a gift shop, bar, multiple lobbies, a two-stepping room, and arena for performances. Crowds were known to reach two thousand people and it was known as one of the only places in Nashville where gay and straight patrons could mix seamlessly. The Connection closed in 2005. The building on Cowan Street was sold by Stinson and Lewis in 2007.

The Grand Ole Opry

600 Opry Mills Dr. Nashville, TN 37214

The Grand Ole Opry House was constructed in 1974 just off the newly created Briley Parkway (State Road 155). Built as a standalone venue for the WSM Grand Ole Opry radio and television program, which started in 1925, the former farmland was also home to the Opryland USA theme park (1972) and Opryland Hotel (1977). The Grand Ole Opry's first show at the new Opry House took place on March 16, 1974. A major flood in Nashville in 2010 temporarily displaced the Opry, and the show was broadcast from a variety of locations that summer including War Memorial Auditorium and Ryman Auditorium while repairs were made. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

The Idahoe

Cumberland River, Nashville, TN 37201

The Idahoe, owned by Captain John Newcomb, was a steamboat seized by the Union Army for the purpose of relocating hundreds of Nashville’s prostitutes. Under the orders of Nashville Provost Marshal Lieutenant Colonel George Spalding (1836-1915), the women were destined for Louisville but were promptly turned away. The Idahoe spent a month on the Cumberland River attempting to gain entry for the women aboard but ultimately had no choice but to return to Nashville. At the end of this odyssey, the passengers had incurred significant damage to the vessel. Captain Newcomb was never fully reimbursed by the government for use of his steamboat, which had gained the nickname "The Floating Whorehouse."

The Jungle and Juanita's

715 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Warren Jett opened The Jungle, a restaurant and cocktail bar, at 715 Commerce Street in 1952. Next door, Juanita Brazier opened Juanita's Place, a beer bar, in 1956. By the early 1960s, both were known as the first gay bars in Nashville. Jett sold The Jungle in 1960, after his brother, Leslie E. Jett, was elected sheriff. In 1963, 27 men were arrested for “disorderly behavior” in a raid at Juanita’s. Gay men continued to gather at both bars until 1983, when the block was leveled.

The Old Planters Bank

A page from a mounted and bound volume of twenty-five pen-and-ink wash drawings, and two pen-and-ink maps of Nashville created by William A. Eichbaum during the 1850s. Eichbaum was a Nashville bookseller and resident for fifty years. The drawing on this page is of the Planters' Bank in Nashville. The Planter's Bank was chartered in 1833, and went into operation in 1834. The Planters Bank of Tennessee was one of the three great ante-bellum banks of Tennessee. Planters' parent bank was located in Nashville on the corner of College and Union Streets, with branches throughout the state. It was later known as the Mechanic's Bank.

The Parthenon

2500 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37232

The Parthenon in Nashville is the world’s only exact-size and detail replica of the original temple in Athens, Greece. When Tennessee celebrated its 100th year of statehood in 1897 with the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, Nashville took advantage of its nickname “Athens of the South” and built the Fine Art Building. Although built to be temporary, the Parthenon made an iconic impact on Nashvillians and their city; they were loathe to tear it down at the conclusion of the exposition. In 1931, it was opened to the public. In 1920, the city tore down the plaster-covered structure and rebuilt it in lasting materials. The decision to rebuild involved local architect Russell Hart and, as consultant, architectural historian William Bell Dinsmoor. The replica of the Athena statue was designed by Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire, and it took eight years to finish. It was unveiled in 1990.

The Recording Angel statue

1 Symphony Place, Nashville, TN 37201

This 14 foot winged angel faces southwest from the corner of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Sculpted by Audrey Flack of New York and unveiled in 2006, the Recording Angel "inscribes the tones that envelopes the heart and heal the bones, that lighten life's toll, and soothe the soul."

The Seeing Eye

315 Union Street, Nashville, TN 37201

The Seeing Eye, the world-famous dog guide training school, was incorporated in Nashville on January 29, 1929. Its headquarters were in the Fourth and First National Bank Building at 315 Union Street. Morris Frank (1908-1980), a twenty-year-old blind man from Nashville, and his guide dog, Buddy, played a key role in the school’s founding and subsequent success. It was Frank who persuaded dog breeder Dorothy Harrison Eustis (1886-1946) to establish a school in the United States. In 1931, the organization relocated to Whippany, New Jersey, because the climate in the Northeast was more suitable for training dogs. As of 2019, the Seeing Eye was located in Morris Township, New Jersey.

The Southern V

1200 Buchanan Street Nashville, TN 37208

It all started in 2015 with husband and wife, Tiffany and Clinton Hancock who had dreams to expand their love of food from Farmers Markets to real restaurants and they did so by 2017! They are a family owned and operated all vegan, American style cuisine restaurant in Northwest Nashville. They have hours that serve the public with purpose yet provide intentional hours to be with their family. They make everything very accessible and have kiosks and websites to make ordering efficient.

The Women's Room

2110 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37204

The Women's Room opened in 1980, owned by Gail DuBois and Mary Marter. The bar was a public space for Nashville's lesbian community. Prior to the opening of the bar, lesbians typically gathered at private house parties or met each other through mutual friends. The Women's Room was located among a strip of bars and music venues, including Wilma Burgess's Track 9 club. Burgess was a closeted lesbian country singer who rose to fame in the 1960s. The bar also held fundraisers for local women's shelters and Nashville Pride events. The Women's Room closed in the summer of 1982.

Thomas Talley

914 17th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

Thomas W. Talley was born on October 9, 1870 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He attended Fisk University and received his Bachelor's in Arts in 1890 and his master’s degree in 1892. From 1903 to 1942, Talley taught science at Fisk University, and was the chair of the Chemistry Department for twenty-five years. Although his academic career revolved around the sciences, Talley also made great contributions to African-American music, collecting and compiling secular black folksongs, and composed an original song, “Behold That Star.” Talley retired from Fisk University in 1942 and died in Nashville, Tennessee on July 14, 1952.

Timothy Demonbreun Statue

100 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

Timothy Demonbreun, a French-Canadian furtrapper, first arrived near what would become the city of Nashville around 1769. He was drawn to the area because of the abundant wildlife, who were drawn by the natural salt licks in the area. Demonbreun lived in a cave by the Cumberland River east of where the Roberston and Donelson parties would establish Fort Nashborough and then built a log cabin that served as his trading outpost. He opened a mercantile business on the Public Square around 1800 and had a house near present-day Third Avenue North and Broadway, marked by a wall-mounted historical marker. Sculptor Alan LeQuire studied under Puryear Mims and Jim Gibson, and learned bronze-casting while working in Rome. He created the Demonbreun statue in 1996

Tootsies Orchid Lounge

422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Tootsie Bess’s (1916-1978) honky tonk, once called Mom’s, was renamed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge when Bess changed the exterior of the building to purple. Thanks to its proximity to the famous Ryman Auditorium, both performers and show-goers would visit Tootsie’s after performances. The venue helped Willie Nelson (1933-) receive his first songwriting gig, and part of Loretta Lynn's (1932-) biopic Coal Miner's Daughter was filmed in Tootsie’s. When the Grand Ole Opry moved from the Ryman to its own venue, Tootsie’s and neighboring Robert’s Western World’s business suffered. Both venues aided in the resurgence and revitalization of Broadway throughout the early twenty-first century. The interior featured a wall of fame, which displayed pictures and memorabilia of prominent and hopeful country music artists alike.

Top Golf

Cowan Street, Nashville, TN 37207

Nashville's Top Golf location on Cowan Street sits on the East bank of the Cumberland overlooking the city skyline. The location has been open since September 2017 and was Tennessee's first Top Golf location. Well before any modern buildings resided on the East Bank, there was a Mississipian-era city in this location, where many Mississipian artifacts have been unearthed.

Trail of Tears

100 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201

Following the Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes across the Southeast were compelled at various times throughout the 1830s to give up their lands and move west to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. From 1836-38 the Cherokee people of northern Georgia were rounded up and forced to relocate north and then west along what would come to be called the Trail of Tears. There were several routes taken to Oklahoma, all of which passed through Tennessee. The only route that passed through Nashville was the Northern Route, where Cherokee people and their government escorts would have crossed the covered toll bridge built in 1823 that once stood were Victory Memorial Bridge now stands. It was the first bridge in Nashville and the stone abutments are still visible along the riverbanks. The bridge was too short for the new steamships of the era, so it was torn down in 1850 and replaced with the first Woodland Street Bridge.

Trailways Station

113 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Trailways Transportation System was founded by Burlington Trailways in 1936 as an organization of five independent bus lines aimed to compete with Greyhound. In the fall of 1960, the Trailways station was a site of sit-ins by students protesting the segregation of lunch counters and interstate bus lines. In December of that year, Bernard Lafayette was attacked by a white taxi driver from behind and was arrested though he did not retaliate. In February of 1961, students returned and were served at Trailways.

Travellers Rest

636 Farrell Parkway, Nashville, TN 37220

Prior to European contact, a Mississippian village was located on the site now known as Travellers Rest. The first Euro-American owner of the site was Judge John Overton (1766-1833), who built a home on the land in 1799. During the Battle of Nashville in December 1864, Travellers Rest served as a headquarters of Confederate John Bell Hood. Following the Civil War, the Overton family continued to operate Travellers Rest as a farm and horse stud until 1946. In 1954, the Colonial Dames of America acquired the property and opened it to the public as a historic house museum. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Trevecca Nazarene College

333 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210

Tulip Street United Methodist Church

522 Russell St, Nashville, TN 37207

UBS Building

433 Third Avenue North

The 28-story tall headquarters of First American Bank, called First American Center, opened at 315 Deaderick Street on July 20, 1973. During construction in 1971, the remains of a prehistoric saber-toothed tiger were found in a cave. This find would later serve as the inspiration of the mascot of the Nashville Predators, an NHL hockey team. American National Bank was founded in Nashville in 1883 merged with Fourth and First National Bank in 1930 to become First American National Bank. The bank later merged with AmSouth Bank and then Regions Bank, and the building was renamed Regions Center. Regions Bank moved in 2013 and began leasing much of the building to UBS (formerly Union Bank of Switzerland).

Union Station

1001 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Completed in 1900 as a Louisville & Nashville railroad station, the station is an example of late-Victorian Romanesque Revival architecture. Architect Richard Montfort (1854-1931) was influenced by Henry Richardson (1838-1886), a prominent American architect who popularized the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Constructed of Bowling Green gray stone and Tennessee marble, the building had a central interior arcade which was topped by skylights. The building was transformed into a hotel in 1987, but the hotel quickly went bankrupt. In 1998, the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium opened in Union Station's old baggage building. It underwent extensive renovations in 2012 and 2016. Owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Union Station was a boutique hotel as of 2019. The station and train shed became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The train shed was damaged in a 1996 fire and ultimately demolished in 2001. Its National Historic Landmark status was removed in 2003. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Union Station Train Shed

1001 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Dating back to 1900, the Union Station Train Shed was 250 feet by 500 feet and could hold up to ten full-length trains. Under gabled roof and lined with lancet and stained-glass windows, passengers and freight loaded and unloaded inside. The station ran the Louisville and Nashville line (L&N), and the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Line (NC&StL). The last train left the station in 1978. The station and train shed became a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The train shed was damaged in a 1996 fire and ultimately demolished in 2001. Its National Historic Landmark status was removed in 2003. Both were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

United Record Pressing

453 Chestnut Street, Nashville, Tennessee, 37203

United Record Pressing first opened under the name Southern Plastics in 1949 as an offshoot of Bullet Records. They specialized in 45-RPM records and landed contracts with Motown and Vee Jay Records in the early 1960s. In 1962 they moved to Chestnut Street. The new facilities included an apartment to accommodate African American artists and music executives during segregation. In 1971, the name changed to United Record Pressing and business continued to expand until it became the largest independent record pressing plant in the Southeast. United survived the rise of the compact discs and has greatly benefited from the vinyl resurgence of the mid-2000s. In 2017, they moved operations to a larger facility on Allied Drive and continue to produce vinyl for companies like Sony, Universal, and Third Man Records. United Record Pressing owned their former plan location on Chestnut Street as of 2019.

University of Memphis

3720 Alumni Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152

The University of Memphis was founded in 1912 as the West Tennessee State Normal School, as a result of legislation creating a teacher's college in each of the state's three grand divisions. The school was renamed the West Tennessee State Teachers College in 1925, then Memphis State College in 1941, and Memphis State University in 1957. The final name change came in 1994. The University of Memphis Law School opened in 1962.As of 2021, the 1,160-acre public research school had an enrollment of just over 22,000.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

720 E 4th St, Chattanooga, TN 37403

Chattanooga University was founded in 1886 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It merged with Grant Memorial University (now Tennessee Wesleyan) in 1889, then became University of Chattanooga in 1907. The school joined the University of Tennessee system in 1969. Founders Hall, built in 1886, was part of the original campus and is next door to Hooper Hall and Race Hall, both built in 1917. Patton Chapel was dedicated in 1919 and is used for university and public events. As of 2021, the 321 acre school had an endowment of $147.1 million.

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

1502 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37996

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is a public land-grant research university that was founded as Blount College in 1794, two years before the state of Tennessee was founded. It was the first public university chartered west of the Appalachian Divide. The school was renamed East Tennessee College in 1807, moving locations to its current site in 1826, shortly before being renamed East Tennessee University in 1840. During the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, the university was renamed University of Tennessee in 1879. As of 2020, the university has an endowment of $1.34 billion.

University of Tennessee at Martin

554 University Street, Martin, TN 38237

The University of Tennessee at Martin opened in 1900 as Hall-Moody Institute, a denominational school built on land donated by Ada Gardner Brooks (1853-1918). The school merged with nearby Union University in 1927 and the facility became the University of Tennessee Junior College. In 1951, it became the University of Tennessee, Martin Branch. As of 2020, the 250-acre campus includes 680 acres of teaching and research land and offers over 100 academic areas of study among 18 undergraduate and 5 graduate degree programs.

Vanderbilt Blair School of Music

2400 Blakemore Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Vanderbilt Litterer Laboratory

631 Second Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210

This structure was built in 1850 to serve the Peabody Normal College as the Winthrop Model School. It was remodeled in 1895, and its architecture contains elements of Italian Renaissance, Midwestern, and Chicago Commercial styles. From 1874 to 1895, it served the University of Nashville medical college. In 1915, local businessman, politician, and philanthropist, William Litterer (1834-1917), gave the building to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and renamed it in honor of his nephew, Dr. William Litterer (1879-1945). It sold in 1949 and later underwent a $2.1 million renovation by the Ritzen Group in 1984. Blyth-Templeton Academy purchased the building in 2018 to use as their Nashville campus. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Vanderbilt Medical Center

2101 Blakemore Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Vanderbilt University's Medical Center was originally established as part of the University of Nashville in 1851 before it was incorporated into the Vanderbilt system in 1874. The School of Medicine was owned and operated as a private group until it was reorganized in 1895 through the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, who raised admissions and academic standards. On September 16, 1925, the school relocated to a new facility on Vanderbilt's main campus, where the Medical Center North building sits today.

Vanderbilt Memorial Gymnasium

210 Twenty-Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37240

Vanderbilt Peabody College

1402 Twenty-First Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Peabody College was established in 1785 as Davidson Academy. The school moved to downtown Nashville in 1806 and became the University of Nashville in 1827. In 1875 the college received funding from the Peabody Education Fund established by George Peabody (1795-1869) which aimed to support public education in the South after the Civil War. After being renamed George Peabody College for Teachers in 1911, the college moved to its current location with the campus modeled after the University of Virginia. It merged with Vanderbilt University in 1979. Given its origin as a normal school, Peabody is renowned for its school of education. The campus was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Vanderbilt University

2201 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37235

Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873 as a million-dollar gift from Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The 75-acre private university was designed by Bishop Holland McTyeire (1824-1889), and built by architecture firm Ludlow and Peabody and landscape architect Warren Manning (1860-1938). The school split from the Methodist church in 1914. The Peabody College section of campus, annexed in 1979, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark since 1966. The campus was designated as an arboretum in 1987 and is home to over 6,000 trees. As of 2021, the 330-acre school has an endowment of over $10 billion.

Villa Place

1201 Villa Place, Nashville, TN 37212

Stemming from the surrounding settlement of Robert Brownlee Currey in the 1820s, Villa Place grew to be a bustling neighborhood starting in 1890. While first inhabited by mainly white residents who wanted to be close to the new streetcar line, the area experienced a shift when white professionals purchased cars and moved elsewhere. In the early 1900s, a new wave of black professionals facilitated growth and prosperity in the area. One of its most notable businesses, White Way Cleaner's, was located in the neighborhood until 2002 but has since moved and switched owners.

Vine Street Temple

699 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Completed in 1876, the Vine Street Temple was Nashville’s first synagogue. Its most prominent architectural feature was seen in its nine Byzantine-style domes. Its congregation underwent several changes in its establishment and organization, namely in its 1854 charter as Khal Kodesh Mogen David and separate 1868 charter as Khal Kodesh Ohabai Sholom. The congregation was one of the founding members of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations during its formation in 1873. The temple stood as an example of the strong Jewish presence in Nashville until its demolition in 1955. After the demolition, the congregation moved to West Nashville, where they were still based as of 2019.

W.T. Grants

215 Fifth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37129

The company was founded in 1906 in Lynn, Massachusetts by William Thomas Grant (1876-1972). The chain store was a 25-cent store that was based in downtown city markets. The growth of the suburb led to the demise of the store, which closed in 1976 only four years after W. T. Grant's death. Additionally, it was not until the eve of its death that company decided to quit paying its shareholders dividend, which only accelerated the company's demise. The store came to Nashville sometime in the 1920s. During the 1960s Civil Rights Sit-ins the store refused to desegregate even after the Mayor of Nashville ordered stores to do so.

WPA Restoration at Fort Negley

WSM Tower

8056 Concord Rd. Brentwood, TN 37027

Erected in 1932 by the Blaw Knox Steel Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the WSM tower, a diamond-shaped, vertical antenna, originally stood at 878 feet outside of Nashville before the city of Brentwood existed. At the time of its erection, it was the tallest tower in the United States. In 1939, due to restraints on transmissions, engineers reduced the tower's height by 70 feet, leaving it at 808 feet at it is today. During World War II, it served as a communicator from shore to ship and submarines. Its primary legacy is linked to the music and entertainment industries: most notably the Grand Ole Opry. Since its birth in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has been broadcasted over the WSM channel, and is the longest-running live radio program in history. Spanning over 30 states, the WSM Tower broadcasted country music, bluegrass, and gospel to hundreds of thousands of listeners, skyrocketing the Grand Ole Opry's popularity and continues to this day. In 2011, the tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Walk Back to Ft. Negley Visitor's Center

War Memorial Auditorium

301 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243

Following World War I, local veterans, the Tennessee Historical Society, and the Nashville Engineering Association advocated for the creation of a permanent memorial to World War I. They lobbied Governor A.H. Roberts (1868-1946) and the state legislature, and, in 1919, the land was acquired. The city, county, and state all pledged money for the memorial's construction. Completed in 1925, War Memorial Auditorium was designed in the Neoclassical style. Through the large fluted Doric columns is an open atrium and a bronze statue of Victory, designed by the husband and wife sculpting team Belle Kinney (1890-1959) and Leopold Scholz (1877-1946). The auditorium was home to WSM's Grand Ole Opry from 1939 until 1943 and the Nashville Symphony until c.1981. The Military Branch of the Tennessee State Museum and the offices of the Tennessee Historical Society are also located on the lower level. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

War Memorial Plaza

301 Sixth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37243

Before the Legislative Plaza was built, the grassy expanse in front of the War Memorial Building was home to many parades and demonstrations, particularly during World War II. The Plaza contains several works of art that relate to Tennessee veterans. The sleek granite tiles offer unobstructed views of the Capitol to the north, the public library to the south, and Public Square to the east. Below ground, it is a labyrinth of legislative offices, committee rooms, and parking spaces for the Tennessee General Assembly. An underground tunnel connects the Plaza to the State Capitol.

Ward Seminary

161 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37203

Ward Seminary was founded by Dr. William E. Ward (1829-1887) and Eliza Hudson Ward (1838-1900) six months after the Civil War ended. A year later, William Ward purchased a building located on Eighth Avenue. Enrollment soared to over six hundred students by 1910. It featured collegiate and college preparatory programs as well as a music conservatory. Ward Seminary also maintained departments for students in grades kindergarten through eighth. In 1913, it they merged to become Ward-Belmont School and moved to the campus of Belmont College for Young Women. In 1951, Ward-Belmont School closed. The collegiate program reopened as Belmont University, a private four-year coeducational college, and the high school remained all-female, reopening as Harpeth Hall School serving grades fifth through twelfth. The original building was demolished. The school was regarded as one of the leading schools for young women in the South.

Warehouse 28

2529 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37204

Steve Smith and Michael “Dolly” Wilson opened Warehouse 28 in 1978. They advertised in gay publications across the South, but quickly attracted anybody, gay or straight, who wanted to dance. As the AIDS epidemic spread during the 1980s, Smith helped found the Nashville Council on AIDS, Resources, Education and Support (CARES) in 1985, and Warehouse 28 staged drag-show fundraisers for the organization. The duo sold the club to Wayne Prince, an employee of the club, and Ted Raper in 1990.The venue closed in 1994. Smith died of AIDS-related causes in 1995.

Warner Music

21 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

The house at 21 Music Square East housed Monument Records, a DC-based record label founded by Fred Foster (1931-2019), from 1974 until its purchase in 1984. Building was purchased by actress Mary Tyler Moore (1936-2017) for the MTM Music Group for approximately $830,000. In 1989, Warner Music Group purchased the studio from MTM Music Group for $1,100,000. Warner used the space both for offices and recording. The recording studios were later renovated in 2005 to take advantage of more modern technology.

Warner Production

20 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

The 20 Music Square East studio, now operated by Warner/Chappell Production, was established in 1986 as SyncroSound Studios. In 1989, Warner/Chappell Productions, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group who operates a studio across the street, purchased the studio. It was renovated by Ross Berger of Russ Berger Design Group. The building primarily functions as office space, but still has three separate studio rooms.

Watch Your Hat and Coat

139 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203

In 1971 Jerry Peek opened Nashville’s first drag bar, Watch Your Hat and Coat Saloon. In 1972, he rented out the second floor to the Metropolitan Community Church. Peek started the Miss Gay America Pageant in 1972, and contestants from across the country came to Music City. Norma Kristie, the inaugural pageant winner, purchased the pageant rights from Peek in 1975 and ran the pageant until 2005. The Miss Gay America Pageant continues to this day. On May 31, 1973, Watch Your Hat and Coat caught fire. The cause was never determined, but many suspected arson as a result of anti-gay violence which was taking place across America. Peek moved his drag shows to the Embers Cabaret Room at 210 Printers Alley.

West-Facing Lookout at Fort Negley

Western Harmony

310 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37201

This historic marker is at the site of the Nashville Republican. Music publishing in Nashville began in 1824 when “The Western Harmony” was published by Allen D. Carden (1792-1859) and Samuel J. Rogers. A book of hymns and instruction for singing, it was printed by Carey A. Harris (1805-1842) on the press of his newspaper, the Nashville Republican, on College Street, now Third Avenue, in this vicinity. In 1826, Harris and his partner Abram P. Maury (1801-1848) sold the paper to state printers Allan A. Hall and John Fitzgerald. In 1837 the Nashville Republican consolidated with the National Banner. The latter paper eventually became the Nashville Banner, which remained in print until 1998.

Western Harmony

310 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37201

This historic marker is at the site of the Nashville Republican. Music publishing in Nashville began in 1824 when “The Western Harmony” was published by Allen D. Carden (1792-1859) and Samuel J. Rogers. A book of hymns and instruction for singing, it was printed by Carey A. Harris (1805-1842) on the press of his newspaper, the Nashville Republican, on College Street, now Third Avenue, in this vicinity. In 1826, Harris and his partner Abram P. Maury (1801-1848) sold the paper to state printers Allan A. Hall and John Fitzgerald. In 1837 the Nashville Republican consolidated with the National Banner. The latter paper eventually became the Nashville Banner, which remained in print until 1998.

William Edmondson

1450 14th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

William Edmondson was born in 1874 to formerly enslaved people George and Jane Edmondson. Before becoming a sculptor, Edmondson worked as a railroad laborer, janitor, and stone mason's helper. He used the money from these jobs to purchase land on 14th Avenue South and build a house where he would later create his artwork. After beholding a divine vision from God that he was meant to sculpt, Edmondson devoted his career to art. After carving in limestone for five years, the art world began to notice Edmondson. Classifying his work as "modern primitive," Edmondson's sculptures were showcased in the Museum of Modern Art (making him the first Black artist to be awarded a solo show) and countless other museums and colleges. Although Edmonson stopped sculpting in the late 1940s due to health problems and died in 1951, his legacy continues today. In 1979, a park at Seventeenth Avenue, North, and Charlotte Avenue was named in his honor.

William J. Hale Stadium

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

The William Jasper Hale Field House and Stadium was built in 1935 using Works Progress Administration funds in addition to local funding.The name of the stadium was changed in 1953 to honor the university's first president, William J. Hale (1874-1944.) The stadium hosted Tigers football games until home games were moved to the larger Nissan Stadium in 1999. A $1 million renovation added a digital scoreboard, new paint, and portable bleachers with an additional 4,000 seats, bringing the stadium’s seating capacity up to 16,000. The Tigers returned to the stadium in celebration of the University’s Centennial in 2012.

William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower

312 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37201

The thirty-one story office building consists of reinforced concrete and is clad in travertine marble. Bruce Graham (1925-2010) of the national firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill was the designing architect. With a height of four hundred and fifty-two feet, this was the tallest building in Nashville from 1970 until 1986. The building maintained the record for the highest point in the city, however, thanks to its perch on a hill. Originally built for the National Life and Accident Company, the building was home to State of Tennessee offices as of 2019. It was named for William R. Snodgrass (1922-2008) who served as Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury from 1955 to 1999.

Wilma Rudolph

3500 John E. Merritt Boulevard

Wilma Glodean Rudolph (1940-1994) was a champion sprinter born in Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee. After overcoming physical disabilities as a result of contracting polio, in 1960 Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals for track and field in a single Olympic games. Rudolph attended Tennessee State University where she trained under coach Ed Temple. After retiring from competition sprinting, she taught, coached, and ran a community center. Rudolph died fin 1994 ollowing a battle against brain cancer, but her legacy remains as one of the fastest women in the world.

Womankind Bookstore

2015 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee 37212

Carole Powell owned and operated Womankind Books with her partner Joanna Morrison and Dorrie Woodson from from 1977-1984. The bookstore served as a space for music, art, socializing, political organizing, health resources, and so much more. In all their events and activities, they sought to open participation in women's civil rights for straight and lesbian women of all income and class levels. The bookstore reflected these values as they sought to include children's materials that were conscious of sexist stereotypes to titles about hard topics like domestic abuse and how-to books like mechanics manuals.

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

700 S Hall of Fame Dr, Knoxville, TN 37915

Constructed by architect Bullock Smith, the 35,000 square foot Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened in June 1999 and is dedicated to the past, present, and future of women's basketball. Inductees may be nominated in the following categories: Coach, Veteran Coach, Player, International Player, Veteran Player, Contributor, and Official. The Hall of Fame is home to the world's largest basketball, weighing 10 tons, which sits on the north rotunda. Within the rotunda, visitors can test their skills on three separate basketball courts. The seventeen-foot tall bronze Eastman statue is located at the Hall of Fame entrance in the Pat Summitt Rotunda.

Woodcuts

1613 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208

Woodcuts was opened on September 23, 1987 by Nathaniel Harris. who had started a framing business out of his garage. He quickly outgrew his home and searched for a permanent retail location. He reached an agreement with Fisk University, to rent the proterty at 1613 Jefferson street. With help and funding from Nashville Minority Business Development Center, Harris opened the business in four months. Harris, the first president of Jefferson United Merchants Partnership, hoped his business would show others the potential of the old and abandoned buildings lining Jefferson Street. He is credited with helping facilitate the revitilization of Jefferson Street.

Woodland Sound Studios

1011 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206

The Woodland Sound Studios opened in 1967 under the direction of Glenn Snoddy. Advances in music and the popularity of music in Nashville can be traced to the Woodland Sound Studios. Snoddy made music history in 1961 when he introduced the “fuzz tone” that is popular in music today. Artists such as Charlie Daniels, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Emmylou Harris have recorded albums in the Woodland Sound Studios. After sustaining damage in the 1998 tornado, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings purchased the building in 2002 and restored it.

Woodland Street Bridge

1 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37201

The second Woodland Street Bridge was constructed in 1886 by the Louisville Bridge & Iron Company, at the same site as a previous suspension bridge, which was built in 1850 and destroyed by the Confederate Army in 1862. The extant bridge was replaced in 1966. The new bridge became the first to span the Cumberland River and was erected by the newly-formed Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. On April 30, 1892, an African American man, Ephraim Grizzard, was taken by a mob from the nearby jail, dragged through the streets to the east side of the Woodland Street Bridge, hanged over the side and shot hundreds of times.

Woolworth's

221 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208

The Fifth Avenue Historic District contains a collection of buildings constructed from 1890 to 1930. Businesses established the area’s reputation as the primary shopping district, which solidified when the historic Arcade opened in 1903. The five-and-dime F. W. Woolworth Company opened in Nashville in 1913. When the county was still under the Jim Crow laws of the 1980s, the store opened lunch counters in 1925. In the early months of 1960, college students, primarily from local historically black universities like Fisk University, Tennessee A&I, and American Baptist College, held the historic Nashville sit-ins. Students sat at segregated lunch counters at Woolworth's, McClellan, and Kress in order to pose a challenge to the oppressive system. In 2017 Tom Morales opened the restaurant Woolworth's on 5th to commemorate the Civil Rights history that occurred at the original Woolworth's.

Word Records

25 Music Square West, Nashville, TN

Word Records, one of the largest Christian music publishing companies in the country, was founded in Waco, Texas in 1951 by Jarrell McCracken (1927-2007). In 1974, Word as sold to ABC (the American Broadcasting Company), which merged with Capital Cities, Inc. ten years later, consequently making Word's owner Capital Cities ABC. In 1992, it was sold to Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc. for seventy-two million dollars. That same year, Word Entertainment moved its headquarters to Music Row in Nashville. In 2001, Mike Curb (1944-) contributed to Warner Brother's acquisition of Word Entertainment. Throughout the decades, Word produced music from Amy Grant (1960-) to the Gaither Trio to Veggie Tales.

Workmen's Circle Hall

521 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

The Arbiter Ring, also known as the Workmen’s Circle, is a Yiddish-speaking, Jewish fraternal organization founded by Eastern European immigrants in 1900. The Nashville chapter’s house, built in 1859 for Isaac Garritsen, was constructed in the Italianate style. The building front features a concrete sign with the organization’s name in both English and Yiddish on the second level. Later owners also included Alexander Iser and Jacob Bloomstein, both of whom were active members in Nashville’s Jewish community. In 1927, the building was purchased by the Workmen’s Circle Branch 641 and was used for meetings, community gatherings, and lodging until 1952. In 2009, Irene Bradley purchased it to use as a commercial kitchen. It was then purchased by Inspiration LLC in 2013 for $700,000 and sold to the Hard 8 Working Group two years later.

YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association)

1000 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203

In July 1875, the Library Association’s rooms and the library itself were made available to the newly formed Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). In 1882, the YMCA moved the collection and its operation to the Olympic Theater Building on Union Street. It served as the only public library in Nashville at that time with educator Frank Hume serving as librarian. In 1886, the YMCA and Library Association parted ways, and the YMCA board purchased a lot between Third and Fourth Avenues. The building was destroyed by fire and the YMCA purchased property at Seventh Avenue and Union and completed construction on an eight-story structure in 1912, where it remained for over sixty years. In 1973, the current YMCA building was completed.

YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association)

211 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) was founded in Great Britain in 1865 as a counterpart to the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Both organizations sought to provide safe, affordable housing to low-income, rural Christian women and men travelling to cities across the United States and Europe. The Nashville YWCA was founded in 1898 above the Gartner & Maden Millinery Shop on what is now Fifth Avenue. In 1909, a new building was erected in the Neo-Classical style on Vine Street, later renamed Seventh Avenue. In 1921, a YWCA branch for African American women, called the Blue Triangle Branch, was opened at Fifth Avenue and Gay Street. In addition to safe housing, the YWCA also offered food, recreation, and job training opportunities. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Z. Alexander Looby

2099-2015 Meharry Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208

Zephaniah Alexander Looby was born on April 8, 1899 in Antigua, British West Indies. He taught economics at Fisk University from 1926 to 1928 and lectured there throughout his career. Three years later, he helped found the Kent College of Law, the first law school for African Americans in Nashville since the last had closed almost 20 years ago. Looby is best known for his help in acquitting 23 black men charged with murder during the Columbia race riot of 1946 and the bombing of his house on April 19, 1960. He died on March 24, 1972.

iHeartMedia

55 Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203

Clear Channel Communications, founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Billy Joe "Red" McCombs, was re-branded in 2014 as iHeartMedia, Incorpaorated. As of 2019, the company owns over 850 AM and FM radio stations, reaching more than 110 million listeners each week. Nashville stations include: 107.5 The River, 105.9 The Rock, The BIG 98, 101.1 The Beat, TalkRadio 98.3 (also 1510AM WLAC), The Big Legend, 97.5 Hallelujah FM, and Hit Nation Top 20.