Centennial Park and Parthenon

Welcome to Centennial Park! As you can see, Nashville takes its claim as “Athens of the South” quite seriously, and literally. So why is there a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Nashville? Well in ancient Greece, the Parthenon was part of the Athenian Acropolis—a symbol of western democracy, progress, and knowledge. In the late 1890s, Nashville hosted a world’s fair event to mark the 100th anniversary of Tennessee’s statehood. It was a chance for Nashville to showcase the city’s post-Civil War vision of industry, progress, and higher education. So, they chose the Parthenon as the focal point of the Centennial Exposition, which opened in 1897. 

The exposition featured many temporary buildings, rides, and exhibits. During the fair’s six-month run, more than 1.5 million people visited Nashville. After the exposition, most of the buildings were dismantled, but they decided to keep the Parthenon. By 1920, the Parthenon’s plaster and wooden structure was in a state of disrepair. That’s when the city decided to make it permanent. The stone and concrete structure you see today was completed in 1925. The story of the Parthenon mirrors the city’s rise as a regional center of culture and education. Between 1864 and 1913, 9 colleges and universities were founded in Nashville as opportunities for higher education expanded for African Americans, women, and working and middle class white men. Most of these colleges still exist today, and the Parthenon signals Nashville’s enduring status as “Athens of the South.”

Today, Centennial Park remains a major fixture within the city, boasting numerous recreational amenities on its 132-acres of land including the iconic Parthenon, a one-mile walking trail, Lake Watagua, an art center, volleyball courts, and a dog park. Next door, you’ll find the Centennial Sportsplex—with a competitive pool, ice rink, and tennis courts. Explore the park and also visit the museum inside the Parthenon. There you’ll see photos and artifacts from the Centennial Exposition, an art gallery, and full-scale replica of the Greek goddess Athena on the main floor.

Before we leave, let me tell you about two more historic events. In the early 1900s, Centennial Park was a destination for many suffrage parades and marches. With the Nineteenth Amendment hanging in the balance, Tennessee’s ratification in August 1920 made voting for women a constitutional right. Look for the Votes for Women monument near the Parthenon entrance to learn more, and take our Woman’s Suffrage walking tour on Nashville Sites. It traces the footsteps of those for and against suffrage as well as the dramatic vote in the state legislature. 

Now locate the Centennial Art Center at the northern end of the park. This was once a public swimming pool, which became a site of Civil Rights activism in 1961. On a hot day in July, two Black students from TSU attempted to gain admission. In response, the city shut down all public pools for two years. Centennial Park’s pool was never reopened. The pool was filled with concrete and covered with grass. In 2022, a historic marker was dedicated to acknowledge this dark chapter in our city’s history. Walk in the footsteps of protestors on our Civil Rights Sit-Ins tour or hop in your car to take our Civil Rights driving tour to learn more about Nashville’s larger role in the Civil Rights movement. 

Fun fact: Taylor Swift mentions Centennial Park in her song “Invisible String” on her Grammy-winning 2020 album Folklore.

Head back over to Park Plaza and exit the park turning LEFT. Turn LEFT onto 31st Ave S and drive 0.6 miles. Turn LEFT onto West End Ave and drive six blocks. Turn RIGHT onto 25th Ave S, which becomes Perry Wallace Way. Drive through the Vanderbilt campus, past Memorial Gymnasium, and park in the small lot on your right by Charles Hawkins Baseball Field. There is a historical marker for the Duncan Preparatory School at the edge of the parking lot.