Photograph of Davidson County Courthouse and Public Square Park, 2012. Image courtesy of Gary Layda.

Courthouse in 1823. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

This 1856 sketch by Nashville bookseller William A. Eichbaum depicts the Nashville Inn and Davidson County Courthouse. This courthouse stood from 1830 to 1856 on the Public Square until it burned down in April 1856. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

Public Square full of horse drawn carts, ca. 1865. Courtesy of TSLA.

This City Hall was originally constructed in the 1850s alongside the new county courthouse. This building was located on the public square separate from the county courthouse and market center and would remain the primary City Hall until 1935 when it was razed for the PWA development project. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

Looking west from the courthouse over the Public Square (also called Market Square or Court Square) towards City Hall and Market Center. Beyond that, on the far right hill, stands the State Capitol. The Duncan Hotel is visible on the left side of Cedar Street (now Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Blvd./ Charlotte Pike). Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

The Davidson County Courthouse, pictured, stood from 1863 to 1935 and was designed by Francis Strickland. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

Image from 1935. Courthouse and public square in the center and original marketplace building on left, with the two main buildings connected by space to sell goods. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

Silent marchers at the Court House Square, Davidson County Courthouse, Nashville, Tennessee, April 19, 1960. Over 3000 participants marched in silence from the campus of Tennessee A & I University to the office of Mayor Ben West at City Hall to protest the bombing of the home of attorney Z. Alexander Looby. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

This group of protestors was fighting the planned construction of I-40 that would cut off the predominantly Black neighborhood of North Nashville. Protests like this one happened regularly at the City Hall and Courthouse in the late 1960s until the construction was complete despite legal action of the I-40 Steering Committee. Image courtesy of the Metro Nashville Archives.

The present building brought about a union of municipal and county offices in one building, approximately twenty-five years before consolidation of the two governments. The building was a significant P.W.A. project. The Courthouse is an excellent example of "Governmental" Art Deco: the symbolism and classical columns speak of a public building, but much decorative work is Art Deco. The Courthouse is also significant because of the excellent craftsmanship it contains the bronze castings, terra cotta, and carvings, for example. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Metro Nashville's motorcycle policeman pose for a photo on steps of the Davidson County Courthouse in March of 1966. Image courtesy of Nashville Public Library.

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Photograph of Davidson County Courthouse and Public Square Park, 2012. Image courtesy of Gary Layda.

City Hall and Public Square

Stop 1 of 8

Public Square

Hello, I’m Mayor Freddie O’Connell—welcome to Public Square and the civic heart of our city. We’re standing outside the Davidson County Public Building and Courthouse built in 1937, though today we call it the Historic Courthouse and City Hall.

You’re looking at the fifth building to occupy this site, but its role as a gathering place dates back to Nashville’s founding. In 1784, city planner Thomas Mulloy marked this as the center of public life. Businesses lined the square, and granite markers on the south side display advertisements and articles from that era. People came here to buy and sell goods, livestock, and food—and tragically, enslaved men, women, and children. To learn more, explore the Early Black Life and Culture tour which details this part of our city’s history.

You might notice the Public Square isn’t at the geographic center of town. It was intentionally placed on high ground near the Cumberland River, early Nashville’s lifeline for transporting goods to cities like New Orleans and Louisville. After the Civil War, the business district expanded south and west, transforming this area into a bustling commercial hub.

Did You Know? In 1825, General Marquis de Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution, visited Nashville during his nationwide tour. A grand parade was held to honor Lafayette. Leading the procession was then-U.S. Senator Andrew Jackson. Jackson would later win the 1828 presidential election. Trivia Question: Lafayette was celebrated for leaving his homeland to fight for U.S. independence, but what country did he come from? We’ll reveal the answer in the conclusion.

Public Square has witnessed many other important moments. Here are just a few:

-In the fall of 1838, more than 10,000 Native Americans passed through Public Square enroute to Oklahoma as part of the forced migration known as the Trail of Tears.

-In 1862, after the Union defeated the Confederacy at Fort Donelson, U.S. troops marched through public square on their way to raise the American flag at the state capitol.

-In 1877, the first hot-air balloon in Tennessee launched from this very spot. Fun Fact: The balloon and its passengers landed safely in Sparta—some 80 miles from Nashville.

-In April 1960, student activists marched here during the Civil Rights Movement. On these steps, Diane Nash confronted Mayor Ben West, helping secure the desegregation of Nashville’s lunch counters.

-In 1976, the square became a parking lot, but in 2008, it was restored as a public park.

-In 2021, the plaza in front of City Hall was officially named in Nash’s honor. Today, people gather here to enjoy festivals, concerts, yoga, and the building’s Art Deco architecture.

From the center of the square, look east for two observation towers named for Nashville founders John Donelson and James Robertson. Feel free to explore Public Square Park and see monuments, memorials, and public art.

When you're ready, continue facing the City Hall and Courthouse and hit Next Stop.

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