Historic Nashville

 

Everyone knows how lucky we Nashvillians are to live in Music City. We get to enjoy world-class music, arts, and entertainment, all year long. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in Nashville. What everyone may not know, is how rich our city is in history. For instance, did you know that Nashville received the first FM license in the United States? You don’t have to go far to see a historical marker, or home that has been granted a preservation status. To find the historical heart of Music City, start downtown on Music Row, and just spread out in every direction from there. Throw a stone and it will land where an icon in the music industry sang, ate a meal, wrote a song, or signed a deal.

 

You cannot talk about music history without mentioning the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium. The Auditorium was named after Captain Tom Ryman, who built the Union Gospel Tabernacle that eventually became the Ryman Auditorium in 1904. The Ryman was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. The show was broadcast there from 1943 to 1974. The original name of the show was “WSM Barn Dance”. WSM was the acronym for ‘We Shield Millions’, a slogan of National Life & Accident Insurance Company, which sponsored the show. One night, before the show went on air…immediately following a classical opera broadcast from New York…announcer George Hay said, “We now present our own Grand Ole Opry”. The rest is history.

 

The Ryman was a proving ground for country music and set the stage for how country music would be influenced for years to come. The Ryman has also played host to nonmusical acts, such as iconic actors Kathrine Hepburn and Bob Hope. It’s not only historic, it's legendary! You can still catch music’s top acts performing there today. Check the calendar on their website for upcoming shows.

 

 

Due to the immense popularity of the show, The Grand Ole Opry had to relocate to a larger venue. It is currently housed at the Grand Ole Opry House, next to Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. When the Opry moved from Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House, the sitting President, Richard Nixon, opened up the first show by playing a few songs on the piano. As a tribute to the Ryman Auditorium, they cut out a piece of oak from the stage and placed it in the center of the stage at the new Opry House. To this day, most artists perform in that circle. The Opry still hosts live performances every week. The Grand Ole Opry is the recipient of numerous awards, distinctions, and designations. Some of those include the Peabody Award and the National Radio Hall of Fame, and on January 27, 2015, the Grand Ole Opry was added to the National Register of Historic Places. For a cool experience, try to get tickets for when the show is being broadcast live. The Grand Ole Opry also hosts non-country music artists such as Lorde and Sam Smith.

 

 

Receiving a charter in 1964, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has collected one of the world’s most extensive musical collections. Its mission statement is, “The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum seeks to collect, preserve, and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music. Through exhibits, publications, and educational programs, the museum teaches its diverse audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.” Like rock and roll, jazz, and R&B, country music is purely an American art, and the Museum strives to preserve and showcase our historical music culture. Along with its world-class galleries and exhibits, the museum features a CMA Theatre that sits at 776, the Ford Theatre that sits at 213, and the Taylor Swift Education Center.

 

At the Country Music Hall of Fame, look closely at the architecture of the Museum. From above, the museum looks like a huge bass clef. On top, of the tower is a replica of the WSM radio tower. The windows in front of the building have a striking resemblance to piano keys, and the shape of the building appears to look like a Cadillac tailfin. In 2015, the museum received more than 1 million visitors in 12 months.