Nashville on the Cumberland River

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and lies on the Cumberland River in the north-central part of the state.

In downtown Nashville, you’ll find the famous Music Square. Music Row is the heart and soul of the nation’s music industry. There are many souvenir and memorabilia shops and museums that honor music and musicians.

In Centennial Park, you’ll find the amazing reproduction of the Greek Parthenon in Athens. It was originally built of wood in 1897 and later rebuilt with cement to create an accurate full-scale replica of the original Greek temple. Inside you’ll find the permanent art collection of 63 artworks by 19th and 20th-century American painters.

Here is also a 42-foot replica of the statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos covered with gold leaf. You can also see the famed 5th century BC Parthenon Marbles.

Hermitage is the former home of the 7th U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It was originally built in 1819 and rebuilt 25 years later. Jackson lived here from 1837 to 1845. This lovely mansion is now a museum with various exhibits and displays focusing on his private and public life. There are guided tours available. The grounds are beautiful with flowerbeds and the burial site of Jackson and his wife.

You can also view the nearby Tulip Grove Mansion the former home of family members Emily and Andrew Jackson Donelson.

The Grand Ole Opry where radio shows have been broadcast since 1925 and visitors can enjoy shows featuring famous country stars. You can enjoy backstage tours of the Grand Ole Opry House.

The General Jackson Showboat is a modern four-deck paddle-wheel showboat built to resemble the steamships of the 1800s. You can get different cruises on the Cumberland River among them dining and show packages.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum makes its home in an interesting building in the heart of downtown Nashville. Its tall windows resemble piano keys. The museum features a multi-media display of historical performances, costumes, instruments, gold records, and memorabilia. Among the highlights is a Cadillac belonging to Elvis, a massive 40-foot guitar, a tour bus, and a recording booth.

You’ll enjoy visiting the Johnny Cash Museum and Café with many artifacts and memorabilia of the country music legend.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum has displays and exhibits that are related to recorded music and its stars.

The Tennessee State Capitol was built on the most prominent hill in downtown Nashville. It was designed in the neo-Classical style and is capped with a temple-like cupola.

It is part of the Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park. Free guided tours and self-guided tours are available. This 19-acre site commemorates the state’s 200th anniversary and includes a huge granite map embedded in the concrete plaza along with many fountains and statues of Tennessee-born Presidents Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson.

The Tennessee State Museum is a great place to learn about the rich history of this state and its people. It is located adjacent to Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park. The museum offers interactive displays and multimedia presentations. There are artifacts relating to Tennessee’s role in the Civil War, including period weapons and furniture. You can see artwork and paintings and displays relating to music and musicians. There is also a theater and an education and learning center.

The Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. It originally opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Ryman is often referred to as the “Carnegie of the South”. Today it features classical concert series, bluegrass shows, musical theater, and TV tapings. The building also has a museum with a variety of exhibits that relate to its rich past. Both guided and self-guided tours are available. At the Ryman Recording Studio, you can try to make a recording of your own. There are also backstage tours available.

The Belle Meade Plantation was built in 1845 and the house is a lovely old Southern mansion built in the Greek Revival style. Right in the front yard of the mansion Union and Confederate soldiers fought during the two-day Civil War Battle of Nashville in 1864, You can still see the evidence of gunfire in its tall stone columns. There are guided tours available as well as culinary experiences and other seasonal fun. The gardens and grounds are lovely and have some early 19th-century buildings. The grounds are popular for weddings. You can enjoy either lunch or dinner at the onsite Harding House Restaurant.

Radnor Lake State Park is a lovely nature preserve on the outskirts of the city. There are plenty of hiking trails that let you wander around the lake and through woodland. There are also trails for biking and dog walking. Among the highlights here are the chance to see wildlife like otters, mink, beavers, bobcats, and deer. The Visitor Center has educational displays that relate to the flora and fauna here. It is a great place for birdwatchers and herons and owls can be frequently spotted. Planning in advance you can participate in activities like wildflower walks, stargazing, nature hikes, and canoe trips.

The Downtown Presbyterian Church is one of over 600 churches in Nashville. It is a wonderful example of Egyptian Revival architecture. Inside the Egyptian decorative theme includes wall paintings, woodwork, and stained glass windows. During the Union occupation of the city during the Civil War it was designated as Hospital No. 8 and had 206 beds. There are self-guided tours available and visitors can attend events and services.

Fort Nashborough sits on the banks of the Cumberland River. It was established in 1780 after James Robertson led settlers across the frozen river. The original fort lasted until 1792 but this modern-day construction offers an interesting insight into the life and times of early settlers in Nashville. You can enjoy the on-site interpretive center that addresses the living conditions of the pioneers while taking in great views of the Cumberland. There are displays relating to Native Indian history, including an interesting sculpture made from feathers. You can also see a number of accurate replica buildings including fortifications, log cabins, and blockhouses.

The Nashville Zoo is a great and fun place to visit You can explore the plains of Africa, walk the rainforests of South America, and take a look at the animals of Asia. The zoo is home to some 2,700 animals from 365 species. There are rare clouded leopards, Baird tapirs, toucans, and Bengal tigers all housed in their natural habitats. Lorikeet Landing lets you enter an aviary with 50 Australian parrots. Children enjoy the Wild Animal Carousel, Wilderness Express Train, and a large Jungle gym. Adventurers can try the thrilling zip-line experience.

Belmont Mansion was built in the 1850s. It is the largest surviving antebellum house in Tennessee. The rooms have been preserved with their original décor and furnishings. It was designed as an Italian villa and is surrounded by elaborate gardens. There are many permanent exhibits to enjoy among them the collection of furniture, paintings, and original statues by American artists. You can arrange for a guided tour.

Cheekwood is well-known for its beautiful gardens and park-like setting.

The highlights here are the Woodland Sculpture Trail with four greenhouses with camellias and orchids and a learning center with contemporary art galleries.

The Frist Art Museum is housed in the city’s impressive old post office building and is known for its visiting art exhibits from all over the world.

Travellers Rest Plantation was established in 1799 by John Overton, a law partner and presidential advisor to Andrew Jackson. It is the site of the Battle of Peach Orchard Hill during the Civil War. The plantation building is a museum today and highlights life in the early 19th century and relates the history of the region from its origins as a Native American settlement to its wartime role. There are specialty tours available, including lunch options.