Founded in 1779, Nashville (the capital of Tennessee) is famous worldwide as the home of country music. The city boasts many wonderful places to discover, from parks to museums and the famous Music Row district. Plus, there are accommodation options in Nashville for any budget. Listed below are some of the most famous attractions in the city.
Visit the Parthenon
Image via Flickr by Rex Brown
The Centennial Park, located west of downtown Nashville, is home to a full-scale replica of the Athens’ Parthenon. This replica of the original Greek temple was made of wood in 1897 and later rebuilt in cement and is the centerpiece of the park. The interior houses an art collection of several dozens of works by 19th- and 20th-century American painters. You’ll also find an impressive 42-foot-high replica of the goddess Athena.
Discover Music-Themed Attractions
Image via Flickr by Timothy Wildey
No visit to Nashville is complete without seeing the Grand Ole Opry. This is a weekly country-music concert stage founded in 1925, and it’s the longest-running radio broadcast in US history. Famous singers along with up-and-coming stars are featured in an entertainment program aimed for all ages. Shows take place weekly from February to October, and from November to January, you can see them at the Ryman Auditorium (also known as the “Carnegie Hall of the South”). The Nashville Opera, the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and General Store, and the Texas Troubadour Theatre are other great places to discover music in Nashville.
Visit the Museums
Image via Flickr by Timothy Wildey
If you like cars and want to discover interesting European models, then a visit to the Lane Motor Museum should definitely be on your list. Established in 2003, this museum displays 150 cars on any given day, as well as memorabilia and art associated with cars. The Johnny Cash Museum, located on 3rd Avenue, is another famous museum in the city–and it’s a great place to visit for all the fans who want to see up-close graphics, artifacts, and memorabilia of the late “Man in Black”.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which “teaches its diverse audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music,” should also be on your travel list. With many exhibitions (check the website before your visit to see what’s on next), this museum is the go-to place to discover country music.
At 1200 Forrest Park Drive, you’ll find the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art. This is another great place to include on your itinerary. The amazing gardens and park will mesmerize and relax you, while the museum, housed in a 1920s Georgian-style mansion, offers you the chance to admire a collection of American art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Close to this museum, you’ll find another interesting one: the Tennessee Agricultural Museum. If you visit this museum during the summer, check the official website to find out when the Annual Rural Life Festival takes place and what activities are included in the Summer Saturdays program.
The Belmont Mansion, the Travellers Rest Plantation, the Upper Room Chapel and Christian Art Museum, downtown Presbyterian Church, Fort Nashborough, and the Belle Meade Plantation are other famous attractions in the city.
