History of Nashville

Historic Facts about Nashville

Nashville was settled on Christmas Day in 1779, and Tennessee became a state in 1796. The city became the Tennessee state capital from 1812-1815 and then permanently in 1843.

Metropolitan Historical Commission

The Metropolitan Historical Commission is a municipal historic preservation agency working to document history, save and reuse buildings, and make the public more aware of the necessity and advantages of preservation in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.

• Historic Zoning Districts
• Old House Fair
• Civil War Sesquicentennial
• Nashville's Historical Timeline

Metro Parks and Recreation

Among the treasures of the Metro Parks and Recreation Department are several important historical sites.

• City Cemetery
• Fort Nashborough
• Fort Negley
• Hodge House at Warner Park
• Parthenon
• Stone Hall
• Two Rivers Mansion

Major Historic Sites

• The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson
• Belle Meade Plantation is an 1853 Greek-Revival mansion with winery, horse stables, carriage house, dairy and slave cabins.
• Belmont Mansion is the largest house museum in Tennessee and the nineteenth century home of Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham.
• Travellers Rest is a historic plantation built in 1799 by John Overton, prominent judge & political advisor to Andrew Jackson. It is the oldest house in Nashville open to the public.
• Fisk University is a historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The 40-acre campus is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Civil Rights Heritage

• The Civil Rights Collection of the Nashville Public Library

Musical Heritage

• The Story of Music City
• Nashville's Musical Heritage
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Grand Ole Opry
• Ryman Auditorium
• Music City Walk of Fame