Jefferson Street Driving

Welcome to the Jefferson Street tour on Nashville Sites! This tour tells the story of a proud and resilient neighborhood—the central thoroughfare of North Nashville’s historic Black business and music district. Since the early 1800s, Jefferson Street has served as a beacon for African Americans that has offered sanctuary and promise. It includes some of the oldest Black churches in Tennessee and three iconic HBCUs. After World War II, this area bustled with shops, restaurants, music clubs, and other businesses. It was also central to Nashville’s Civil Rights movement.

Then in the 1960s, Jefferson Street was literally divided by the construction of I-40, which destroyed the neighborhood’s vibrant economic and social life. Jefferson Street Sound Museum’s founder and CEO, Lorenzo Washington said, “There were once over 600 homes and businesses… When the interstate came through, it corrupted all of that.” Today, many dedicated residents seek to revitalize Jefferson Street while preserving its rich history. On this tour we will explore the area’s present by looking into its past. Jefferson Street isn’t just a street, it’s a story.

Hello, I am Dr. LaDonna Boyd, 5th generation president/CEO of R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, which was founded in 1896 right here in Nashville, Tennessee. I will be your guide as we uncover the hidden histories of Jefferson Street. The tour was written by Tennessee State University’s Dr. Lea Williams along with Dr. Brandon Owens and Linda Wynn from Fisk University. Students from these schools also assisted in the tour’s research and writing. As a reminder, this is a driving tour so don’t navigate with or use your phone while driving. You will make nine stops total, and we will tell you where to park for each. At each stop, you can listen and learn from your car or get out, walk around, and enter local establishments. Be sure to take pictures and tag us on social media @NashvilleSites. So, let’s get started, welcome to the Jefferson Street tour!

Begin the tour by finding street parking outside the Tennessee State Library and Archives located at 1001 Representative John Lewis Way, just off of Jefferson Street.