Most people visiting Nashville are there to explore its thriving country music scene, but that’s not the only reason to visit this city. There’s more to the capital of Tennessee than meets the eye, and its full-scale replica of the Parthenon will make you see it in a whole new light.
This building may seem out of place in the world’s country capital, but it comes with an interesting backstory. It served as the centerpiece of the Centennial Exposition in 1897, earning Nashville a nickname “Athens of the South”.
William Crawford Smith designed it to resemble the popular Greek landmark, and the building is now located in the very heart of the Centennial Park. When it was first built, the Nashville Parthenon wasn’t meant to stay there permanently, but that changed after it became the city’s major landmark and it was rebuilt in concrete after significant detrition.
Over a century later, this building remains one of the best examples of classical architecture in Nashville and it now houses an art museum. It’s a popular venue for temporary art shows and exhibits, while its permanent collection includes around 60 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists.