Capitol and Church Architecture

Welcome to Nashville Sites’s Capitol and Church Architecture Tour! Prior to the mid-20th century, before cars and buses took the lead in transporting goods and people, Nashville’s business, banking, and shopping districts were historically located on the north end of the city’s downtown anchored by Church Street, Union Street, and Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. Gone are the streetcars, movie theaters, and big department stores of the time, but thankfully many buildings still stand and have been renovated for use as office space, boutique hotels, loft apartments, art galleries, and restaurants. You will also see amazing former and current government buildings—including the Tennessee State Capitol. 

This self-guided walking tour will explore the north end of downtown, and we’ll visit the best examples of the city’s diverse architecture and discover the history tied to these places. Please note that the Capitol and Church Architecture tour will direct you to the entrance of each building, but you may find it helpful to view the stop from across the street—in order to see the full structure in all its architectural glory.

At Nashville Sites, we divided the Architecture Tour into separate excursions, allowing users to explore more stops and stories. So take our Broadway Architecture Tour to learn more about other important places and people. Hi, I’m Tim Walker, the director at the Nashville Historical Foundation, and I will be your guide as we set out on an architectural journey that covers the city’s historic business and shopping districts.

Begin the tour in the Nashville Public Library lobby. If you parked in the garage below the building, go to the first floor of the library. Stamp your parking garage ticket at the circulation desk for a discounted rate. If the library is closed, the tour will begin at the library’s front entrance, located at 615 Church Street.