War Memorial Auditorium/ Tennessee Performing Arts Center

A. War Memorial Auditorium 

As you walk past the statue of Victory look to your right to see the entrance of War Memorial Auditorium. You are now standing in the courtyard of the War Memorial Building. Walk through to the plaza on the other side as you listen to this entry. Built in 1925, the War Memorial Building was constructed to commemorate Tennesseans who served in World War I. To learn more about this complex, take another Nashville Sites tour that includes War Memorial. They are: Downtown Public Art and Murals, Capitol and Church Architecture, Civic and Public Spaces, Civil Rights Sit-Ins, and Hidden History.

But for now, and for this tour, we want to focus on the War Memorial Auditorium, which is on the left side. The venue seats 2,200 and is known for its crescent-shaped stage and incredible acoustics. As we mentioned on our last stop, War Memorial served as an early home to the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry set up shop here in 1939. That same year, Bill Monroe, “the Father of Bluegrass,” became a regular on the show and was an instant hit. Fun fact: Before the Grand Ole Opry started charging twenty-five cents a ticket while at War Memorial, admission was free. Roy Acuff was also a regular at the Opry. Here’s a sample of his song “The Great Speckled Bird.” 

What a beautiful thought I am thinking

Concerning a great speckled bird

Remember her name is recorded

On the pages of God's Holy Word.

Though the Opry moved to the Ryman in 1943, War Memorial Auditorium has and remains an important venue here in Nashville. In the 1950s, it hosted some of the most popular soul artists of all time including: Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and the Five Satins, who performed for segregated audiences. In 1961, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also delivered an important speech here during the Civil Rights Sit-Ins movement.

War Memorial Auditorium also has many ties to classical music. The year after its completion, in 1926, the Nashville Symphony regularly performed at War Memorial until it was disbanded during WWII. And once the war was over? Well, you might say when the Opry moved out—the Opera moved in. The symphony called War Memorial home from 1946 to 1980 when it moved across the street. With a century under its belt, the auditorium retains most of its original design and finishes and still hosts many concerts and events. War Memorial Auditorium is Nashville’s second oldest active performance venue after the Ryman, which was built 33 years earlier.

If you haven’t already, walk down the steps of the War Memorial. Stop in the center of the open plaza, with the State Capitol on your left. Straight ahead is the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. 

B. Tennessee Performing Arts Center 

Remember when we told you that the Nashville Symphony moved across the street? Look no further than the Tennessee Performing Arts Center or TPAC, which was completed in 1980 and spans the entire block! Located within the James K. Polk Cultural Center, TPAC hosts a variety of performances in its three theaters: Andrew Jackson Hall, James K. Polk Theater, and Andrew Johnson Theater. History Trivia: What do these theaters have in common? We will tell you at the end of the stop.

TPAC began as an idea. Martha Ingram—businesswoman, philanthropist, and cultural arts enthusiast—proposed a performing arts facility to the Tennessee legislature. After eight years the state finally approved funding through a private-public partnership. This partnership would allow the non-profit to operate and offer affordable space in a state-owned facility. TPAC is home to the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Nashville Repertory Theater. The arts center also provides several educational programs and has hosted several Broadway shows. As we mentioned earlier, TPAC also hosted the Nashville Symphony until the Schermerhorn Symphony Center opened in 2006. Be sure to check out the Schermerhorn on our Music in Music City South tour.

So, what do Andrew Jackson Hall, James K. Polk Theater, and Andrew Johnson Theater have in common? Each is named for a Tennessee president!

Make your way down to the street level of Sixth Avenue. Take a LEFT on Sixth Avenue and walk a half block to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Take a RIGHT onto MLK Blvd. and go ahead and start the next stop—it’s what we call a “walking stop.” You will stay on MLK Blvd. for three blocks where it will dead end at Third Avenue. As you walk, listen or read as we tell you about Municipal Auditorium, Morris Memorial, and Western Harmony. And be sure to pay attention to traffic, these are busy streets!