Nashville's Top 22 Landmarks

Sure, Nashville is "Music City," but that's not all. After you catch the next hit song at a club or cafe, take a riverboat cruise, see a full-size replica of the Parthenon and explore historic mansions in this vibrant Southern city.

August 08, 2022

By: Lynn Coulter

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Reasons to Love Nashville

If you think Nashville is only about music — we have news for you. Yes, this vibrant city is known for country music stars and up-and-comers hoping to be discovered when they play in clubs and cafes. But there's so much more. Browse our list of Nashville's top landmarks and experiences.

General Jackson Showboat

Start your Nashville experience with a cruise on the General Jackson Showboat, a replica of a vintage steam-powered riverboat. The daytime cruise features a stage show and lunch, while the evening trip includes dinner and live music. You'll get spectacular views of the Cumberland River from any of its four massive decks.

The Parthenon and Centennial Park

The centerpiece of Centennial Park, a 132-acre public green space, is a full-scale replica of the Greek temple the Parthenon that celebrates Nashville's nickname, the "Athens of the South." It's listed on the National Register for Historic Places. The park includes a walking trail, art center, sunken gardens, a lake, dog park and more. Look for a 42-foot statue of the goddess Athena standing inside the Parthenon, just as she did in the one in ancient Greece.

Grand Ole Opry

The world-famous Grand Ole Opry has hosted country music artists since its 1925 debut as a one-hour radio show. Weekly performances, now live, are still going strong. After you catch a show, take a backstage tour to peek into the stars' dressing rooms, hear stories about legendary performers and step into the wooden circle where big-name talents like Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn, Minnie Pearl and Garth Brooks stood before you.

Music City Walk of Fame

Find your favorite stars on the Music City Walk of Fame. This landmark trail pays tribute to performers and other people in the music industry who put Nashville on the musical map. Stroll past the names of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Hank Williams and many more. It's free, and you can check the calender and come back for an induction ceremony when new stars are added.

Belle Meade Plantation

Once a private estate, Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery is now a 30-acre historic site that features an 1853 Greek Revival mansion, reconstructed slave cabins, a mausoleum, smokehouse, carriage house and other outbuildings. In recent years the site has made an effort to acknowledge and illuminate the role of slavery in the plantation's history and the lives of the African-American slaves who were forced to live there. An on-site restaurant features Southern-inspired fare. Sample fine wines at the winery or book a Bourbon Experience tour to learn about whiskey and bourbon. Other guided tours are also available. This site was once a premier Southern horse farm. Since 2003, the bloodline of every Kentucky Derby racehorse has linked directly to Belle Meade.

Johnny Cash Museum

The Johnny Cash Museum boasts the world's largest and most complete collection of artifacts and memorabilia about the legendary Man in Black. The museum is self-guided; give yourself about an hour to explore everything. The museum is also a popular venue for corporate events and meetings, banquets, musical events, receptions and even weddings.

The District

Discover Nashville's live music scene in The District, located downtown and along the Cumberland River. It includes three revitalized historic districts: Broadway, 2nd Avenue and Printer's Alley, and it's home to honky-tonks, world-class restaurants and popular music venues like Tootsie's and The Stage. It's a far cry from the area's original reputation as a red light district. Hang around to hear live music until 3 a.m. on the weekends.

RCA Studio B

Many famous artists recorded their big hits here, including Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and the Everly Brothers. Now renovated and restored, RCA Studio B was the birthplace of the "Nashville sound," a musical style known for using background vocals and strings. It's both a classroom for area students as well as a popular tourist attraction.

Belmont Mansion

Before the Civil War, the Belmont Mansion was the largest house in Tennessee. It was constructed from 1849 to 1860 for one of the wealthiest women in the antebellum South, Adelicia Acklen, who used this Italian-style villa as her summer home. Today, visitors can explore this historic house and museum to see collections of garden ornaments, portraits, prints and maps, silver, porcelain and more. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion is on the Belmont University campus.

Tennessee State Museum

Sometimes called the "Smithsonian of Tennessee," the Tennessee State Museum traces the history of the land and the culture of its people from prehistoric times to the present day. Spanning over 60,000 square feet, the museum houses an impressive Civil War collection, one of the largest in the nation. It's located on the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street, by the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.

Frist Art Museum

There's always something new to view at the Frist Art Museum, formerly known as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Located in a white marble building once used as Nashville's primary post office, it's a fine example of Art Deco and classical architectural styles. While it doesn't house permanent collections, it hosts traveling exhibitions from across the United States and the world and curates its own award-winning art exhibitions.

Ryman Auditorium

From 1943 to 1974, the Ryman Auditorium echoed with the sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. After the Opry moved, the auditorium fell into disrepair until singer Emmylou Harris held several concerts in this 2,362-seat venue. Renovated in 1994, the Ryman has hosted many top-notch performers since then, from Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and Bruce Springsteen to Blondie, Diana Krall and Lady A.

Printer's Alley

Around 1915, 13 publishers and 10 printers ran their presses in a small area called Printer’s Alley. Hotels, restaurants and salons dotted the streets, although some turned into speakeasies after Prohibition took effect in 1909. Later, nightclubs featured Chet Atkins, Barbara Mandrell, Jimi Hendrix and other big-name talent. Many clubs are still around, lit by restored or replica neon signs. The signs also point the way to boutiques, spas, restaurants and bars.

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

After serving as a US president from 1829 to 1837, Andrew Jackson returned to his plantation home, The Hermitage, where slavery helped Jackson build his wealth. His Greek Revival mansion sits on 1,100 acres and the Hermitage is privately owned by the Andrew Jackson Foundation, a private, not-for-profit organization. Visitors can book tours led by costumed guides and explore the gardens and former slave quarters. Rated the third-best presidential site in the country by USA Today, the Hermitage also offers an award-winning presentation, Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm. See the website for the schedule.

Lane Motor Museum

Check out 150 unique vehicles — one of the country's largest collections of European cars and motorcycles — at the Lane Motor Museum. Some are one of a kind, while others are microcars, amphibious vehicles, prototypes, military vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles that date from the early 1900s to modern times. This working museum aims to keep its collection in running order, and daily demos are free with admission. See the website for operating days and hours and a schedule of events.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

You'll be dazzled by the rhinestone jackets, photos, videos and other items on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Rotating exhibits trace the way country music and its culture have evolved from its folk roots to today. Make time to listen to the historic sound collection, which includes 98% of all the country music tracks made before World War II. The museum's online calendar lists don't-miss experiences, too, like a beginner's banjo-playing workshop. Want to strum an old-timey banjo? Just ask.

Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum

Music fans of every genre will want to explore Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Exhibits tell the stories of the engineers, producers and session musicians who create the music you hear — though you may not know their names. Listen to a story about award-winning guitarist Steve Lukather, who played for Toto, Michael Jackson and others, or learn how Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" was recorded. The interactive museum lets you wear headphones while you play electric drums, keyboards and guitars, or sing, make a recording or try your hand at being a DJ.

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

Stroll through 55 acres of gardens and forests at Nashville's Cheekwood Estate and Gardens. This combined botanical garden and art museum was built in 1929 as the home of the Cheek family. It's one of the city's top attractions, drawing over 400,000 annual visitors, and it offers family activities, programs and year-round festivals. Visit in the spring to see some of the 250,000 bulbs in bloom, or visit during the winter to enjoy a mile of sparkling holiday lights.

Nashville Zoo

Meet rhinos, giraffes and meerkats, as well as amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles and arthropods (think spiders and other critters with exoskeletons and segmented bodies) at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. A Backstage Pass lets you go behind the scenes to see the animals or opt for a tour that lets you feed or touch some of them. At this time, KN95/N95 face masks are required to see certain animals, such as the clouded leopard cubs. Visit the zoo website for more information.

Nashville Skyline and the Batman Building

New York has the Statue of Liberty, Missouri has its Gateway Arch and Nashville has the so-called Batman Building. Famous for its resemblance to the Caped Crusader's mask, this landmark is actually the 33-story, 617-foot-tall AT&T Building, the tallest office tower in Tennessee. In 2009, an online French publication named "La Bat Tower" as one of the 12 most original offices in the world. Unfortunately, the observation deck on top isn't open to the public, but look up and you can see its twin spires from almost anywhere in the city.

Bridgestone Arena

Home to the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League, Bridgestone Arena is a two-time winner of Pollstar Magazine's Arena of the Year award and the city's number one venue for sports, large concerts, country music and television awards and other entertainment events. It was formerly known as the Nashville Arena, the Gaylord Entertainment Center and the Sommet Center.

Fisk Memorial Chapel

In 2022, Fisk University ranked number nine among historically black colleges and universities, according to US News and World Report. It's the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville and home to the historic Fisk Memorial Chapel. Completed in 1892, the chapel seats approximately 800 and has hosted performers, speakers, political figures and others, including The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and Merle Haggard.

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