MORE GREETINGS FROM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (TN) USA
Today we explored Nashville.
After breakfast this morning, we put on our walking shoes and headed for Downtown. First stop – the Ryman Auditorium. This was originally the home of the “Grand Old Opry” between 1943 and 1974. Prior to that, it was the Union Gospel Tabernacle back to its construction in 1892 – funded by Thomas Ryman, a successful Nashville businessman. As a live performance venue, it has hosted the Country Music Association Awards, seen artists from Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams to Ringo Starr, Coldplay and the Foo Fighters and held memorials for many a prominent country music figure. It has been referred to as “The Mother Church of Country Music”.
The Ryman Auditorium – front (above) and back (below)
Next was the Music City Walk of Fame. Like the stars on Hollywood Boulevarde, this is a walk of fame with stars that honors significant contributors to Nashville’s musical heritage and significant achievements in the music industry. Not really sure how they have come up with the timing of the inductees – started in 2006, Johnny Cash was only inducted last year, whilst Peter Frampton was inducted in 2011 and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 2008 (though I have nothing against the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band !).
Some stars on the walk
From here we headed to the river front. Nashville sits on the Cumberland River. We have found a few of the bigger towns/cities with river frontages have made, or are making, efforts to revitalise them. On the opposite side of the river is the massive Nissan (pronounced Nee-Sahn) Stadium, home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans football team. A large pedestrian bridge has been built from the stadium, across the river, right to the heart of the downtown entertainment area. We saw yesterday how successful this works with the packed bars and restaurants after the game. There is also a large open air amphitheater and parklands along the river front on both sides of the river.
Nissan Stadium on the river front – home of the Tennessee Titans
Then it was on to the Johnny Cash museum. This was excellent ! Lots of stories, memorabilia, video clips and music covering the great artist. We spent quite a bit of time here. We were lucky we went when we did as when we arrived we walked straight in. They limit the numbers going in so it doesn’t get too crowded and by the time we came out the queue to get it was nearly out the front door !
We walked along some of the main streets on the way back to the hotel – all much quieter than they had been last night ! There is quite a lot of building and renovation going on at present. There are still lots of the old buildings with the old painted advertising signs on them. I hope they manage to preserve those as they really add to the character of the town.
Back at the hotel, we picked up the car and headed out of town a bit to some of the other sights. The “Grand Ole Opry” started as the “WSM Barn Dance” in a new radio studio in downtown Nashville in 1925. It is the longest running radio broadcast in US history, dedicated to honoring country music and its history. It moved to its current location – much bigger – in 1974, although the short winter season since 1999 has gone back to the Ryman Auditorium. It remains one of the crowning achievements for country musicians to play at the Opry. Being made a member of the Grand Ole Opry, country music’s big house, the oldest, most enduring “hall of fame”, is to be identified as a member of the elite of country music.
The Grand Ole Opry
For those with no musical talent – like us – the nearby vast Grand Ole Opry Mall provides retail therapy where you can spend up like a star !
Our final stop for the day was the Parthenon. No – not a typo – the Parthenon – like in Greece ! Nashville, Tennessee has its own full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. It was built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Nashville’s moniker is “The Athens of the South” (pronounced Ay-thens) and this influenced the choice of the building for the centerpiece of the Exposition. Today it functions as an Art museum.
The Parthenon – Nashville branch
We had a late lunch before we left the mall at “Johnny Rockets” – a 50’s diner – so we decided to utilise the “Homewood Happier Hour” option for our dinner – a couple of drinks and snacks – and put up our feet after dinner.
Tomorrow we head down part of the iconic “Nachez Chase Parkway” on our drive to our next stop – Memphis.
Until then – Thankyou very much !
Today’s Trivia – The catchphrase of Maxwell House coffee – “good to the last drop” – was first uttered by President Franklin Roosevelt after sipping coffee at Nashville’s Maxwell House Hotel.