John Sevier State Office Building

Completed in 1940 as the main Tennessee State Office Building, this was the final Tennessee project completed by the Public Works Administration (PWA) as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program. As with the other PWA buildings you have seen today, it features the PWA Modern or Stripped Classicism style with Art Deco details, such as the bronze light fixtures and grating (a wooden or metal lattice). This style continues on the interior of the building, as well as murals depicting scenes from Tennessee’s history by Dean Cornwell—who also painted the murals in the Davidson County Courthouse.

It currently serves as the office of the state’s Attorney General. The building is named for Tennessee’s first governor, John Sevier. In addition to serving six two-year terms as governor from 1796 to 1801 and 1803 to 1809, Sevier was the only governor/president of the “State of Franklin,” a failed Appalachian state in what is now East Tennessee. From the front steps, look across the street to see the other state office buildings named for Sevier’s political rival, Andrew Jackson, and Jackson’s wife, Rachel. 

Continue north on Sixth Ave. North to the Cordell Hull building, next door on your right. As you pass between the two office buildings, look to the right for a view east towards the courthouse, Cumberland River, and East Nashville. Notice the three stars of Tennessee in the courtyard—this symbol is used on the state flag to represent the three grand divisions of the state: East, Middle, and West.