Edgehill Polar Bears

For our last stop, locate the two large polar bear statues in front of Gernert Tower. Nashville is associated with hot, humid, and sweaty summers­—not the typical climate for polar bears. So, you may be asking yourself why the mascot of the Edgehill neighborhood is a bear typically found on the other side of the globe? 

The story of the bears is one that can be traced to the early twentieth century when Edgehill was a burgeoning middle- and upper-class neighborhood for African Americans. You can see two bear statues today, but there are four total. The origin story of the bears begins with the Polar Bear Frozen Custard Shop. First displayed in the 1930s, they helped to promote the store’s delicious treats, and for those of you who are wondering—frozen custard is similar to ice cream!

When the frozen custard shop went out of business, the Reverend Zema Hill bought all four polar bears. Hill was also an undertaker and mortician. He put two of the statues in front of his residence, and the other two were placed in front of a Edgehill funeral home he owned. The funeral home, later owned by the Patton Brothers, no longer stands, but you can still visit the site at 1306 South Street. Check out the historical marker that tells this story.

After the 1960s, the story of the polar bears becomes a bit of a mystery. Two bears ended up in Germantown and are currently located on Sixth Ave. North. Take our Germantown walking tour to learn more about this historic neighborhood. Nashville’s Metro Development and Housing Agency tracked down the other pair of polar bears and purchased them in 2003. They were placed back in the heart of Edgehill—where they stand today. In the early 2000s, metal signs with the polar bear logo were placed around the perimeter of the Edgehill neighborhood. Because of this quirky and fun history, residents and visitors alike associate the polar bears with Edgehill!