Best Historic Sites in Nashville

The Belcourt is a historic theater now run by a non-profit group. It functions as a home for classic, independent, and foreign films and is staffed by avid film lovers who not only tell you about the movies showing but explain why they were chosen and why you should see them. Friendly, accessible, and offering a wide variety of snacks and beers, the theater also hosts concerts and various other events.

A tribute to classical architecture, the Parthenon in Centennial Park houses one of the premier museums in the area. The permanent collection not only boasts notable works from 19th- and 20th-century American artists, including Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Edwin Church and Thomas Moran, but also contemporary pieces crafted by up and coming Nashville artists. Athenian sculptures created from direct casts of originals that once adorned the ancient Greek ruins are also on display.

History buffs will strike gold here. The building, dating from the Civil War era, has been restored to its original glory. Visitors are invited to tour the House and Senate Chambers and fill their minds with American trivia. The grounds, site of the graves of former Tennessee governor and US President (1845-49) James K. Polk and his wife, offer inviting shaded areas as well as several small garden areas.

Other than country music, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey is probably the state's most famous export. Lynchburg, the town where it's made, sits in a dry county, but it's worth the one-hour drive to take the free tour of the historic distillery. Once you're back in Nashville, you'll find plenty of watering holes where you can sip some of Mr. Daniel's Old No. 7.

This restored 1799 Federal-style home was the original home of John Overton, lifelong friend of Andrew Jackson and designer of Memphis. The home, located a few miles south of downtown, served as Confederate headquarters for General John B. Hood prior to the 1864 Battle of Nashville. Today, the home preserves several relics of the past, including a unique collection of Tennessee-made furniture. The site hosts several annual events during the year. Don't miss a stroll through the gardens and the gift shop!

History comes to life at the home of Old Hickory, former President Andrew Jackson. The story of The Hermitage, and how Andrew Jackson's forged his prosperous farm, is peppered with invention, freedom, and the changing tides of the times. At the Hermitage, visitors can expect to see a day in the life of plantation living, as they tour the mansion and the expansive grounds and learn about the history of slavery, the role of women, and the war. During the holiday seasons, guest can expect to discover the origins of many of the Jackson family Christmas traditions.

An iconic landmark for country music fanatics, artists and critics, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum chronicles the stardom of the genre's famous favorites. "Sing Me Back Home: The Journey Begins, Folk Roots to the 1960's" conjures childhood nostalgia as does the exhibit's second installment, "Dreaming My Dreams: The Journey Continues, 1960's to the Present." Listen and learn from greats like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams.

Belmont Mansion's unique role in the history of Nashville and the South draw countless visitors eager to hear its story. This restored mansion, also known as the Acklen House, is the largest home museum in Tennessee and one of the few nineteenth century homes whose history revolves around the life of a woman: Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham. during the Civil War. Widowed during the Civil War, Adelicia secretly negotiated agreements with both Union and Confederate authorities to sell her cotton and bring home money for her family. An innovating and visionary woman, the history of the house and its mistress make Belmont Mansion a fascinating discovery.

A world of its own, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens offers visitors a chance to escape, discover, and be amazed. The estates grounds offer such mesmerizing sights as the reflection pool, Japanese garden and their nature sanctuary. This 55-acre botanical garden and art museum, located on the historic Cheek estate, exists to celebrate and preserve its landscape. If the awe-inspiring scenery has your appetite working overtime, Cheekwood is known for their fine-dining and mouth-watering fares. After filing your belly, the Georgian-style museum which features national traveling exhibitions, ranging from Early American to European decorative art awaits you. Cheekwood provides hours of pleasure set in a breathtaking backdrop.

Belle Meade Plantation is one of the premier plantations in Nashville. Stately, elegant, and pristine, this antebellum mansion rests on 30 acres of land just south of Nashville in upscale Belle Meade. Charming and authentic, the quaint grounds are impossible to turn down for a stroll, while the columns of the house still bear bullet scars from the Civil War. The plantation includes eight historic buildings, including Dunham Station's cabin, which dates from 1790. The Victorian-style manor home, completed in 1853, is now a museum dedicated to preserving the Harding family's rich legacy. History is preserved and brought back to life for the thousands that discover and return to Belle Meade mansion every year.