Road Trip — Nashville Tennessee – Historic Downtown
Posted by Karen on 31-Jul-2008
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Today was a walk around downtown Nashville. On my way downtown, I spy a history marker, of course I stop and check out the place of Captain Ryman’s former house, he played a large role in Nashville history. Once I got downtown, I didn’t really have any specific plans or really know what there was to see, so I started at Fort Nashborough, which is where the hotel tour guide said a bus tour started from. Fort Nashborough is just that, an old fashioned fort on the river bank and shows some of the history about the founding of Nashville. I continue walking down First Avenue, so on one side of the street is old brick buildings and on the other side is the new Riverfront Park on the Cumberland River banks and the Coliseum, home of the NFL Tennessee Titans, is across the river. Strolled up and down the streets, through the oldest downtown area on Second Avenue, and on over to historic Printers Alley to check it out and to find a local geocache. It’s still evident that this was at one time the “men’s quarters” for Nashville. The Downtown Presbyterian Church is a captivating building to look at; It didn’t appear open today, but I understand it is an active church still today. The Arcade, Nashville’s first shopping center, was the perfect place to find an ice cream on this hot muggy day. Just up the block was the Tennessee State Museum and I decided to view the many rooms of history and artifacts they have inside. Free admission and well worth spending some time viewing the exhibits. There is a lot of history in this area and Tennesseeans are very proud of their part in the forming of our wonderful nation. The Ryman Auditorium was the next notable building I saw. The Ryman started life as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, a place to hold gospel revival meetings, and eventually became associated with country music in the 1943 when the Grand Ole Opry moved there. Continuing on, past the Church Street Park, with the interesting puzzle painting on the building side. The Hermitage Hotel just looks impressive and stately on the outside; the fancily dressed doormen definitely help with the image. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is a gorgeous elegant building with fountains and statues. My final walk in downtown was across the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge to check out the river and the city skyline from an elevated spot; it’s a very peaceful spot to sit and relax for a bit.
