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Image 1 of 1: 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.
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.

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.

Founding of Nashville statue

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Description

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.

Title Founding of Nashville statue
Creator Nashville Historical Foundation
Author Jessica Reeves, Staff; 2019
Date 1780: 1962
Address 287 First Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201
Type Art
Coverage Area 1
Contributor City of Nashville; Beverly Briley
Subject Art; Downtown; Early History; Early Settlement; Government and Politics
Keywords Cumberland Compact, Fort Nashborough, James Robertson, John Donelson, Local Government, Statues
Rights CC BY-NC 4.0