Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville is the urban core of Nashville, the capital and most populous city in the state of Tennessee. Situated along the western bank of the Cumberland River, the district traces its origins to a frontier settlement established in late 1779 and has grown over two and a half centuries into a nationally recognized hub of music, government, commerce, and tourism. The sound of Nashville echoes from the city's downtown core, where honky tonks play world-class live music 365 days a year and historic buildings have been transformed into music attractions, boutique hotels, art galleries, and chef-driven restaurants. Today, Downtown Nashville draws millions of visitors annually and remains the geographic and cultural heart of the broader metropolitan area.

History and Founding

The area that would become downtown Nashville was first settled when James Robertson left the Watauga settlement in northwestern North Carolina, traveled overland for two months, and arrived on the banks of the Cumberland River near the center of present downtown Nashville on Christmas Day, 1779. In 1779, Fort Nashborough was built by pioneers from North Carolina. In 1784, the settlement was incorporated as a town by the North Carolina legislature. The Southwest Territory became the state of Tennessee in 1796, and Nashville became an incorporated city in 1806. In 1843, it became the permanent state capital of Tennessee.

The riverfront birthplace remained the heart of the settlement and grew into what is now Downtown Nashville. Most of the nearby nineteenth-century buildings are included in three National Register Historic Districts — Second Avenue, Broadway, and Printer's Alley — that are collectively referred to as the District.

Nashville was a prosperous river city when it became the permanent capitol of Tennessee in 1843. By the time the state capitol building was officially completed in 1859, Nashville was an established center for government and business. With a thriving printing industry and a newly built railroad station, the downtown area welcomed an influx of new businesses in the early 1900s.

The opening of Union Station in 1900 bolstered Nashville as a center for distribution and fueled the growth of the downtown area. Following World War I, Nashville's business community became more diversified and service-oriented, and by mid-century, banking and insurance were primary industries.

The Civil War and Reconstruction

In the Civil War, Nashville was seized by Federal troops in 1862 and became a major Union military base. Nashville was the first Confederate city to fall to the Union Army during the Civil War. While the war curtailed Nashville's early-century economic momentum, it did not break the city. To its advantage, it did not suffer near the level of devastation as other major Confederate cities, such as Atlanta.

After the Civil War, Nashville quickly grew into an important trade center. Its population rose from 16,988 in 1860 to 80,865 by 1900. The post-Civil War years of the late 19th century brought a newfound prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.

The Ryman Auditorium, originally named the Union Gospel Tabernacle, was built in 1892 in downtown Nashville. The Downtown Presbyterian Church, built in 1851, is one of the few examples of Egyptian Revival architecture in America. These and other surviving landmarks give the modern downtown its distinctive architectural character, layering nineteenth-century masonry alongside twentieth- and twenty-first-century towers.

Music Heritage and Cultural Identity

Downtown Nashville's identity as "Music City" runs deeper than its famous honky-tonk strip. The origin of the "Music City" nickname and Nashville's musical reputation actually has nothing to do with honky tonks. It began with the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University: an all-Black a cappella group that toured the nation during the 1870s to raise money for the university. The group left campus for their fundraising tour on October 6, 1871.

It was the advent of the Grand Ole Opry in 1925, combined with an already thriving publishing industry, that positioned the city to become "Music City USA." Like Second Avenue, Broadway was a mercantile district; however, the Grand Ole Opry's move to the Ryman Auditorium just north of Broadway in 1941 brought the district a new identity associated with country music and music- and tourism-related businesses. The Ryman was home to the Grand Ole Opry until 1974, when the show moved to the Grand Ole Opry House, 9 miles east of downtown.

The Ryman Auditorium is considered Nashville's most famous music venue. Opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the historic space has undergone numerous changes over the years. It is best known for its long-standing association with the Grand Ole Opry — an iconic live country music radio program that started in 1925. Acclaimed for its remarkable acoustic qualities, the Ryman Auditorium hosts live performances from the biggest names in music, comedy, and theater.

Printer's Alley takes its name from its early connection with Nashville's printing and publishing industry, but the alley later became a center of the city's nightlife. Printer's Alley is a beloved nightlife strip in Downtown Nashville, named for its connection with the 20th-century publishing industry, as the alley was once lined with newspapers and print shops; it is now one of the city's best places for bars, restaurants, and late-night venues.

Downtown is also home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which features more than two million artifacts of country music legends, including original recordings, costumes, musical instruments, rare footage, and more. The National Museum of African American Music, which opened in 2021, is where visitors can appreciate the African-American community's leading role in over 50 music genres and styles. From blues and jazz to gospel and hip-hop, six fascinating spaces explore this incredible narrative through rare collections of objects, memorabilia, and artifacts.

Modern Revitalization and Sports

Like most American cities, Nashville's downtown went into decline in the 1960s, as shopping centers, malls, and the suburbs became dominant in the urban landscape. Recovery efforts began in earnest in the late 1970s and 1980s, led by community organizations and city officials who recognized the historic and economic value of the riverfront district.

Since the 1970s, the city has experienced tremendous growth, particularly during the economic boom of the 1990s under the leadership of then-Mayor and later-Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, who made urban renewal a priority and fostered the construction or renovation of several city landmarks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the downtown Nashville Public Library, Bridgestone Arena, and LP Field.

Bridgestone Arena (originally Nashville Arena) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in downtown Nashville. Completed in 1996, it is the home of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. Designed by HOK Sport (now Populous) in conjunction with Hart Freeland Roberts, Inc., it was positioned at an angle on the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue in physical homage to the historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

A defining moment in the district's modern history came on April 16, 1998, when a powerful tornado struck. The F3 tornado hit downtown Nashville at 3:30 p.m., originating near the intersection of Charlotte Pike and 46th Avenue. The tornado path headed right into downtown, crossed the Cumberland River, and picked up steam as it hit East Nashville and moved on to Donelson. The tornado left 35 buildings in downtown structurally unsound and damaged more than 300 homes and businesses in East Nashville. All in all, the storm left $100 million in damage and only one fatality — remarkable, given the fact that Nashville did not have storm warning sirens at the time.

The expansion of the National Hockey League brought the Nashville Predators to Nashville in 1998; they play at Bridgestone Arena, located in downtown Nashville. Shortly after the NHL expansion, the Tennessee Oilers moved from Memphis to Nashville in 1999, beginning its inaugural season as the Tennessee Titans. In two years, Nashville witnessed the expansion of two professional sports organizations, and these franchises tremendously invigorated the revitalization of the downtown area.

Key Landmarks and Districts

Downtown Nashville encompasses several distinct sub-districts and landmark institutions that shape its character.

Lower Broadway is the most recognized corridor of the downtown core. World-famous Lower Broadway is at the heart of downtown, an area bustling with exciting live music, great food, thrilling sports, and elegant hotels. The street's famous honky-tonks operate seven days a week, offering free live music to visitors and locals alike.

SoBro (South of Broadway) is the newer urban district that developed south of Broadway. South of Broadway is a vibrant downtown neighborhood with upscale hotels, restaurants, live music, key attractions, and Nashville's convention center. The neighborhood is anchored by the Music City Center, Nashville's downtown convention complex. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Music City Center is a 2.1 million square foot convention center with more than 353,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, two ballrooms, 60 meeting rooms, and a covered parking garage with 1,800 spaces. Nashville's convention center opened its doors to the public for a preview on May 19, 2013, with an official ribbon cutting and grand opening held on May 20, 2013. In its first ten years, Music City Center hosted 2,335 events, including 462 local nonprofit events, with an attendance record of 4.4 million people, equating to $3.3 billion in direct economic impact for the greater Nashville region.

The Tennessee State Capitol stands at the north end of the downtown grid. The Tennessee State Capitol is one of only eleven state capitols without a dome. It was constructed between 1845 and 1859. With guided tours and exquisite architecture designed by William Strickland, the Tennessee State Capitol features statues honoring Sam Davis, Sgt. Alvin York, and Presidents Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson. On the capitol grounds, visitors can also find the tombstones of President James K. Polk and his wife.

The Arcade on Fifth Avenue is one of the oldest commercial structures in the district. Established in 1903 and modeled after the great shopping gallerias in Milan, the Arcade, with its two stories of shops, offices, and jewelers, was and still is a popular gathering spot.

The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge connects downtown to East Nashville across the Cumberland River. Completed in 1909, it boasts incredible views of the Tennessee capital's skyline and the Cumberland River. Easily reached from downtown and stretching over to East Nashville, it makes for a pleasant stroll at any time of day.