While they call it Music City, there’s so much to Nashville that may surprise you. There’s more than great music, there’s s a lot of great history in the city (as well as quite a few historic music venues). From the Parthenon to Grand Ole Opry House, there are plenty of sites to see.
Nashville also serves as an excellent jumping-off city to explore the rest of Tennessee, visit Germantown, Lynchburg, Franklin, Arrington, and more.
Check out the best landmarks in Nashville:
The Parthenon located in Centennial Park is a reproduction of Athens’ Parthenon right down to the 42-foot replica of the Athena statue found in Greece. Inside is a permanent art collection of works by 19th- and 20th-century American painters.
Most famously the Grand Ole Opry was started at the famous Ryman Auditorium, which was named National Historic Landmark and still hosts live music and special Grand Ole Opry shows. Now “Opryland” is associated with several locations across Nashville including the General Jackson Showboat, the Gaylord Opryland Resort, and Convention Center, and the huge Opry Mills shopping mall. Weekly performances have been going on since 1925 with big-time names like the Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood, and Rascal Flatts.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” and is a must-stop for country music fans. The museum has 2.5 million artifacts including historical musical instruments, rare recordings, and thousands of clothing items worn by country music stars. Take a deep dive into the country music’s past while celebrating its future!
Music Row was once the heart of the country music industry. Music Row includes important landmarks such as RCA Studio B, a facility credited as the birthplace of the unique “Nashville sound.” There are also souvenir and memorabilia shops, country music museums, and many memorials and plaques. It’s a great area to get your music fix, whether you’re sightseeing, shopping, or dining.
Located not far from Nashville, the Belle Meade Plantation was first founded by John Harding in 1807 and evolved into a Greek Revival Mansion, deer park, and train station. Today the property is home to a winery and remains a popular background for weddings in Nashville.
There’s more than just music in Nashville, it’s also home to the largest collection of European cars and motorcycles in the US. Founded by Jeff and Susan Lane in 2002, the museum started as a personal collection of 70 vehicles and has expanded the collection to art, memorabilia, and over 500 vehicles ranging from the museum features European cars of unusual design: propeller-driven vehicles, microcars, three-wheeled cars, amphibious vehicles, competition cars, and prototypes.
The former home of President Andrew Jackson also happens to be one of the most beautiful spots in Nashville. Located 10 miles east of Nashville, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage has been fully-renovated to look just as it would have during Jackson’s time and offers formal guided tours of the property, other fun activities include wagon rides and themed events such as ghost tours.
This iconic distillery is located in the historic city of Lynchburg, 90 miles from Nashville. Jack Daniel’s Whiskey is renowned the world over, and this is the perfect way to see where the magic is happening. You can make a day of it with a tasting tour from Whiskey Trail Tours.
Reserve private yours and transportation to landmarks all over Nashville with Whiskey Trail Tours.
Tour distilleries, wineries, breweries, and the city of Nashville in a private, fully sanitized, chauffeured vehicle.
