Nashville is a large prosperous city with a well-developed network of colleges and universities, and the world-famous Performing Arts Center. But first of all, the city is associated with music and is considered to be the birthplace of country style. Nashville is the second largest center of the music industry in the US. Many famous countrywide singers were born in this city. There are numerous radio stations, clubs, as well as sound recording studios.
However, Nashville is known not only for music. Here are 8 worthwhile places that should be definitely visited while traveling to the state capital of Tennessee…
Tennessee State Capitol
Tennessee State Capitol is a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture built on the highest hill in the center of Nashville. The building is designed in the strict Greek neoclassical style and is crowned with a chapel. Each of the four sides of the Capitol is decorated with porticos in the style of ionic temples. The building houses a collection of Tennessee State Museum with exhibits covering prehistoric times before the Civil War. The 200-year-old park of the Capitol with its numerous fountains and statues also deserves an attention. Free excursions are available at 9am.
Address: 600 Charlotte Ave
Operating Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday closed
Music Row
Nashville is a musical city, and this is the birthplace of country – the most iconic American music. Music Row district is the center and heart of Nashville’s music industry. In addition to diverse radio stations, clubs, sound recording studios, souvenir shops and museums dedicated to music and musicians, many monuments, memorial plaques and places associated with music are situated there.
Address: Music Row, Nashville
Belle Meade Plantation
The fans of history are encouraged to visit Belle Meade Plantation. In the center of the plantation there’s a huge white mansion dated 1853. Nowadays it’s also a historical museum. Not far from the mansion you’ll find a small hut, which was built in 1790. Belle Meade is a small “piece of history” reminding the era of plantation slavery. Also, there’s a small cozy park with well-groomed green lawns around the plantation. At the entrance to the plantation, visitors are met by guides dressed in historical costumes.
Address: 110 Leake Ave
Operating Hours: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm
Country Music Hall
The museum is located in a magnificent building on 5th Avenue next to the Music City Center and Bridgestone Ice Arena. Before entering the museum, pay attention to the upper floor – the windows of the facade are made in the form of piano keys.
Country Music Hall features a breathtaking multimedia exhibition of historical performances, costumes, instruments, records and memorabilia of America’s most famous county-style musicians. The key attractions are ‘Cadillac’, which once belonged to Elvis Presley and a massive 40-foot guitar.
Address: 222 5th Ave S
Operating Hours: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm
Downtown Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church is one of over 600 churches in Nashville. Featuring a magnificent sample of the Renaissance architecture, this is one of the few temples in the United States builtin Egyptian style. Egyptian decorative theme is continued inside of the church thanks to the numerous wall paintings, wooden carvings, as well as stained glass windows. Downtown Presbyterian Church was used as a hospital during the occupation of the city in the Civil War: it housed over 206 woundedsoldiers. Self-guided tours to the church are available.
Address: 154 5th Ave N
Operating Hours: Monday-Sunday 8am-3pm
Belmont Mansion
Built in the 1850s, Belmont Mansion has been one of the best luxurious royal houses in the US. Its 16 rooms retained their original decor and furnishing. Belmont was designed in the style of an Italian villa with a garden full of marble sculptures and a lot of outbuildings. It boasts of many historical exhibits, including furnishings, paintings, and original statuettes of American sculptors.
Address: 1700 Acklen Ave
Operating Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday and Monday closed
Cheekwood: Estate & Gardens
Cheekwood is well known for its beautiful gardens and lovely parkland. Occupying 22 hectares of land, the garden features four greenhouses with camellias and orchids, as well as a science center with galleries of contemporary art and the city museum placed in a Georgian-style mansion. The museum offers a rich collection of American art of the 19th and 20th centuries. Also, there’s Tennessee Agriculture Museum with its great selection of artifacts, and Folk Art Museum.
Address: 1200 Forrest Park Dr
Operating Hours: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm
Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo allows you to explore the plains of Africa, delve into the tropical forests of South America and discover the majority of Asian animals. In the zoo there are such amazing and rare animals as clouded leopards, Baird’s tapirs, toucans and Bengal tigers living in enclosures representing their natural environment.
Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike
Operating Hours: Monday-Sunday 9am-4pm
As you see, Nashville is very diverse. The city features a plenty of interesting spots, which create a wonderful conditions for a multi-faceted holiday. All these sights are ready to give you an unforgettable experience and easily reachable by under 25 car rental in Nashville. So, don’t miss the opportunity to get breathtaking emotions by visiting them!
