Fisk University and Meharry Medical College

Welcome to the Fisk University and Meharry Medical College tour on Nashville Sites. These educational institutions are two of the oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, in the United States. Street parking is available on Jackson Street, Phillips Street, and Meharry Boulevard. You can also pay to park at the Albion Street Parking Garage or there is also a free parking lot at the corner of 19th Ave North and Hermosa Street.

When the Civil War ended in April 1865, Congress established an agency known as the Freedmen’s Bureau. General Clinton B. Fisk, head of the bureau’s Kentucky-Tennessee division, led the effort to open Fisk, with additional support coming from the American Missionary Association. As a result of his work, the school bears his name. The original location was downtown behind Union Station, but in 1867, the school was rechartered as Fisk University and moved here to North Nashville. This was the former site of the Union army’s Fort Gillem, also called Fort Sill. For over 150 years, Fisk has produced thousands of African American leaders, many of whom you will learn about on this tour.

Meharry Medical College also has a rich history, dating back to 1876 when the HBCU Central Tennessee College created the Meharry Medical Department and admitted eleven students. Dr. William Snead and Dr. George Hubbard served as the first two faculty members. As one of only fourteen Black medical schools in the nation between 1865 and 1910, Meharry separated from Central Tennessee to become an independent school in 1915. Then, in 1931, Meharry moved next door—their current campus is on the other side of Dr. D.B. Todd Blvd. Meharry Medical College is the largest private HBCU in the U.S. solely dedicated to health care, science, and medicine. We look forward to telling you more about Meharry Medical College on this tour.

So let’s get started! I am Dr. Brandon A. Owens, Sr., and I serve as the Director of Library Services for the John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library at Fisk University. In addition to Dr. Tara Mielnik of Cumberland University, this tour was curated by one of Nashville’s most influential and beloved scholars. Dr. Reavis Mitchell was a Fisk graduate and returned to his Alma Mater in 1980 as a history professor. He later served as dean of the School of Humanities and Behavioral Social Sciences. He passed away on June 16, 2020, and though we mourn his loss, we proudly publish this tour in his memory.

Follow me as we learn about the incredible history, culture, campus, and people of Fisk and Meharry. Also be sure to follow @NashvilleSites on social media and tag us as you listen and learn.

Begin the tour in front of Livingstone Hall on Jackson Street. You’ll see the original cornerstone in the front of the entrance.