Color Nashville Sampler

1. Grand Ole Opry

Created by George D. Hay for WSM in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is the only show that brings country legends, up-and-coming artists, and unscripted entertainment to Nashville every week. Showcasing country music's past, present, and future, the Grand Ole Opry is the perfect place to connect artists and fans to the music they love. While it made brief stops at Belcourt Theatre and the War Memorial Auditorium, the Opry truly became mainstream when it relocated into the Ryman in 1943. The show was a Ryman staple until 1974, when it moved out to its current home at the Grand Ole Opry House. Over the years, the Opry has hosted many of country music’s best and brightest stars like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Dolly Parton, among many others. With an unparalleled legacy of shaping and sharing the genre, broadcasting the industry’s most illustrious artists, and having an incredibly passionate audience, the Opry continues its nearly century long unbroken musical cycle as the true home for country music.

2. Ryman Auditorium

When you walk through Ryman Auditorium, one thing becomes clear: this place is hallowed ground. This is the building where bluegrass was born, where country music found a national audience, and where countless careers took off. Designed by Hugh Thompson and completed in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the building was envisioned by Thomas Ryman as a place where all people could worship. The Tabernacle was renamed to Ryman Auditorium after Ryman’s death in 1904 to honor his legacy. After Lula Naff took over as its manager in 1920, the Ryman transformed into the Carnegie of the South by hosting various cultural offerings and major guests. When the Grand Ole Opry moved there in 1943, it brought countless artists to the Ryman stage for over thirty years. Revived as a performance hall and museum in 1994, this Mother Church of Country Music is now one of the world’s best performance halls, with its crystal clear acoustic sounds that are unlike any other venue on the planet. Call it spiritual or mythical, this iconic landmark and symbol of Nashville's rich musical heritage always has something magical up its sleeve.

3. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

After traveling around Nashville, delight in relaxing to cascading waterfalls, a dancing waters light show, and 9 acres of lush gardens at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center –the United States’ largest non-casino hotel. Designed to recreate the feel of a stately Southern mansion, the Resort opened in 1977 as the Opryland Hotel to complement the Opryland USA amusement park. Over the years, Opryland has added a luscious garden conservatory, a waterfall, an indoor river, and tons of good-looking greenery. Operated by Marriott International, today the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center offers nearly 3,000 guest rooms and suites, beautiful indoor gardens, an 18-hole golf course near the Cumberland River, over a dozen on-site eateries, and a soothing spa. Just outside the Resort is the historic Grand Ole Opry, where weekly country music stage shows that have been going strong for nearly a century. In short, there is essentially something for everyone at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

4. Broadway

Nashville’s Broadway is known for its lively entertainment scene, with numerous bars, honkytonks, restaurants, and live music venues. Named after the famous Broadway in New York City, Broadway was one of the original streets laid out in Nashville in the late 18th century. In the early 20th century, this major road began attracting many theaters and entertainment venues, including the Ryman Auditorium, which soon became one of the United States’ most important concert halls. Over the years, Broadway became known for its vibrant nightlife, with numerous clubs, bars, and music venues attracting visitors from around the world. In the 1960s and 1970s, Broadway went through some rough times, as many of the historic buildings were abandoned or fell into disrepair. Thankfully in the 1980s and 1990s, the street was revitalized due to the massive investment from developers and entrepreneurs. Today Broadway is a thriving entertainment district, as its dozens of live music venues, restaurants, and other attractions make it one of the most popular destinations in Nashville for tourists and locals alike.

6. AT&T Building

Rising 617 feet high above the clouds of the Music City, the 33-story AT&T building is Tennessee’s tallest office tower and one of the southern United States’ most famous skyscrapers. Designed by Earl Swensson and Associates and completed in 1994, the AT&T Building is known locally as the “Batman Building” due to its two pronounced towers on either side of its broad ends resembling the comic book superhero’s iconic mask. Serving as AT&T's regional headquarters for the southeastern United States, it remains one of the most recognizable structures in Nashville and boastfully symbolizes the city's progress and ambition.

7. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exists to preserve, celebrate, and share the legacy and impact of country music and its pioneers and icons. Celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and extraordinary collection of historically important artifacts related to country music, this “Smithsonian of country music” is the perfect caretaker and custodian for this enduring art form. Established by the Country Music Association in 1961 and chartered in 1964, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum initially opened in 1967 on Music Row. Moving to its current downtown location in 2001, this titan of a Museum contains more than 2.5 million artifacts and features over 130 musical legends in its Hall of Fame. Its signature exhibit Sing Me Back Home takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the rich history and gorgeous sounds of country music. As one of Nashville’s most popular attractions, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum gives country music fans the chance to explore and engage with this enduring art form.

10. Printer's Alley

Traditionally the center of Nashville’s nightlife, Printer’s Alley got its name from its multitude of publishers and printing companies operating within the alley during the early 20th century. During Prohibition, its multitude of saloons became notable speakeasies. Nightclubs opened here in the 1940s, and the alley became a showcase for the talents of performers like Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, The Supremes, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Jimi Hendrix. But in the 1960s and 1970s, Printer's Alley fell into disrepair as most of the clubs and bars closed down or moved to other parts of the city. Fortunately, the area has been recently revitalized, and many of the historic buildings have been renovated and restored. Today, Printer's Alley is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, with numerous bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and music venues offering plenty of entertainment options. The alley is also home to a number of art galleries and shops, as well as the famous Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, which features live blues and jazz performances.

17. General Jackson Showboat

One of the largest showboats ever built, the General Jackson is a triumph of American ingenuity. With its delicate decoration and stately design, the boat showcases the opulence of the American Victorian era and epitomizes the South’s grace and grandeur. The General Jackson Showboat is named after the first steamboat to operate on the Cumberland River in 1817 – which itself was named after President Andrew Jackson, who loved steamboats. Built by the United States’ largest inland shipbuilder Jeffboat, the General Jackson has been a Nashville mainstay since it arrived in 1985. This floating palace consists of four exquisite Decks: the Hurricane Deck, the Texas Deck that contains the beautiful Heritage Hall and the scenic Texas Stern, the Upper Deck that features its huge paddlewheel, and the Main Deck that includes the heavenly Victorian Theater. Combining impressive size with opulent décor, the General Jackson strives to make every cruise an unforgettable event through its signature service, engaging entertainers, and elegant journeys. All these elements combine together to make the General Jackson “The Grandest Showboat of Them All”.

18. Belmont Mansion

Discover Tennessee’s largest and most elaborate home built before the Civil War. Constructed in the Italian villa style between 1850 and 1853, with a major addition in 1860, Belmont Mansion was the summer home of one of the South’s wealthiest women, Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham. Just before her death in 1887 she sold the home and surrounding estate to a land developer. In 1889, Ida Hood and Susan Heron purchased the home and thirteen acres, and the following year opened Belmont College for young women. That school eventually evolved into Belmont University, a thriving co-ed liberal arts school that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. Visiting here is a rare opportunity to explore one of the few 1850-60s era homes that survive in Nashville. Come learn about this unique place and the people who lived and worked here while enjoying the massive collection of beautiful 19th century art.

19. Frist Art Museum

The Frist Art Museum inspires people through art to look at their world in new ways by presenting high-quality exhibits, educational programs, and community outreach activities. Located within the historic Art Deco post office, the Frist Art Museum is named after Thomas Frist – whose eponymous foundation helped to transform the building into a gorgeous visual arts center. Opened in 2001, the Frist hosts both exhibits from the world’s most prestigious collections as well as their own award-winning shows. However, the Frist is best known for its innovative Martin ArtQuest Gallery and its magnificent Rose on 65th Street sculpture.

20. Lane Motor Museum

Established by Jeff Lane in 2002 and opened in 2003, the Lane Motor Museum hosts some of the world’s most unique automobiles. Housed within a former bakery, the Lane Motor Museum features over 500 vehicles in its vast collection. Their enormous array of European cars makes the museum a thorough retrospective on the relationship between humans, wheels, and motion. Some of the institution’s most fascinating driving machines include the petite Peel P50, the historic Renault Type AG Series 1, the distinctively powered Helicron and Berger cars, and the amphibious military behemoth LARC-LX.

22. Nashville Zoo

Nashville Zoo inspires a culture of understanding and discovery of the natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership. Located just outside of Nashville, the dynamic Nashville Zoo is both one of the nation’s largest zoos by landmass and one of Tennessee’s top tourist attractions. Opened in Cheatham County in 1991 and relocated to its current location at Grassmere in 1997, Nashville Zoo has grown from a minor operation to a facility that welcomes over one million visitors each year, while being involved with international efforts to save threatened species. Featuring over 2,700 animals from over 375 species, you can be very sure that you will be enamored with the wildlife at Nashville Zoo.