Historic Nashville, Inc.

Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of St. Cecilia Motherhouse
2017-11-04 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | St. Cecilia Motherhouse, 801 Dominican Drive, Nashville, TN, 37228, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of St. Cecilia Motherhouse on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Description of the St. Cecilia Motherhouse from the website of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia:
On thirty-two acres located in downtown Nashville, St. Cecilia Motherhouse is an oasis on the north side of a busy southern city. It provides a peaceful setting with numerous reminders of our 150 year history that lift our hearts in joyful praise and thanks to God. St. Cecilia Motherhouse was completed in 1862. Additions in 1880, 1888, 1904, and 2006 completed the building. Today it houses the sisters in formation in our novitiate, the sisters who administer and teach at our schools in Nashville, sisters who serve the community through specific duties at the Motherhouse, and our retired sisters. The center of our home and our life is the beautiful Chapel of St. Cecilia. Here the sisters gather as a community three times daily, spending additional time in personal prayer and making frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
2017-10-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4905 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN, 37220, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 10:30 AM
This tour will be led by Father Gregory.
The church congregation has been in Nashville since 1917. Founded by Greek immigrants that moved here from St. Louis. The present building on Franklin Rd was constructed in 1986.
Plentiful parking is available behind the church.
For more information visit: http://holytrinitynashville.org/about-us/
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Fort Negley Park
2017-10-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Fort Negley Visitor’s Center, 1100 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of Fort Negley Park on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Meet at the Fort Negley Visitor’s Center at 10:00am.
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A Brief History of Fort Negley Park
By Krista Castillo
In 1805, Judge John Overton of Travellers Rest began obtaining the property known as St. Cloud Hill. Although privately owned, the wooded hill became a popular retreat from the growing city.
In February 1862, the Federal Army took possession of Nashville. Over the spring and summer, military officials, recognizing the possibility of enemy invasion, initiated an ambitious defensive strategy and the army seized private property for the purpose of constructing fortifications. In southeast Nashville, Captain James St. Clair Morton selected St. Cloud Hill for due to its proximity to the southern approaches to the city via the Louisville/Nashville rail line and the Franklin and Nolensville Pikes.
Thousands of African Americans enslaved within the city and on nearby plantations viewed federal forces as protectors. Soon makeshift camps grew around the hills designated for fortifications. Unprepared for the massive influx of refugees and the challenges of hiring enough laborers to complete the defenses, military officials formulated a system for employing former slaves. Plagued by internal disputes, corruption, prejudice, and indifference, the army rarely fulfilled promises of pay, rations, and shelter. As a result, hundreds perished from exposure, disease, and hunger in the camps.
Permanently displaced by war and the end of the slave system, many African Americans remained in the refugee camps established on St. Cloud Hill. Over time, these residents settled into comfortable neighborhoods surrounding Fort Negley. Children growing up in the segregated neighborhoods separated by St. Cloud Hill found freedom from society’s strict racial codes within the old fort’s protective walls.
Between the summer of 1862 and September 1867, thousands of Federal troops, including United States Colored Troops, occupied St. Cloud Hill. Jacob Coonley’s 1864 panoramic image reveals soldiers peering over the eastern slope to the rail yard and the remains of more than 11,500 Federal soldiers contained in three Federal cemetery lots on and around St. Cloud Hill, including the City Cemetery.
When the Federal Army abandoned Fort Negley’s stone skeleton and St. Cloud Hill in 1867, picnickers returned to the site. Some envisioned a grand manicured boulevard stretching from an elaborate public park on St. Cloud Hill to the Capitol Building. Although attempts in 1913, 1926, and 1929 to establish a National Park at Fort Negley in honor of the Battle of Nashville were unsuccessful, newspaper reports from across the country reveal the significance of the battle and the fort in American cultural memory.
In 1928, the Nashville Park Board purchased the 50-acre parcel from Judge Overton’s heirs for the purpose of establishing a public park. Between 1934 and 1941, funding and labor provided by the Works Progress Administration made restoration of the fort and enhancement of the park possible. The WPA Project Proposal dated May 1, 1935 stated, “The park will be a decided addition to the park system of the City of Nashville besides adding an excellent historical point of interest for tourists.” Fort Negley Park boasted four softball diamonds, a hard ball diamond, a lighting system, stone bleachers, a stone comfort station, and a multi-level stone retaining wall constructed along the park’s eastern boundary. Decorative boundary walls along Chestnut Street and encircling the fort structure and the large stone entrance, key components of WPA design and construction, emphasized the city’s desire for creating a large multi-use park in south Nashville. These decorative walls, the retaining wall, and large portions of the bleachers remain on the property today.
Although the surrounding African American neighborhood developed from the Civil War-era conscripted labor camps, the eastern portion of Fort Negley Park catered to thousands of white ball players and spectators throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In 1946 and 1953, the Park Board rejected requests from the African American community to designate Fort Negley as a “Negro” park. During the mid-1960s, the construction of I-65 and I-40 displaced the neighborhoods located south of St. Cloud Hill forever altering the character of the area. Later, the Edgehill Urban Renewal Program allowed for the leasing of portions of the park to the Children’s Museum (now Adventure Science Center) and the Nashville Baseball Club, Inc., at nominal rates.
While Metro sought to revitalize the area through new construction, others worked toward national recognition of Fort Negley Park as a historic site. In 1975, the site was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Five years later, Metro Historical Commission funded a study for the purposes of acknowledging “a growing awareness of the uniqueness of Fort Negley in the region” and for developing “a concept for the ultimate use of the historic resources to the advantage of the community at large.” In conclusion, the study recommended eliminating unauthorized use of the site, clearing the hilltop of uncontrolled vegetation, interpreting the fort structure, promoting tourism, and providing basic amenities such as picnic tables and restrooms.
The Fort Negley Master Plan released in 1996 expanded on these recommendations, calling for a interpretative center and dedicated professional staff. Fort Negley Park, including the stabilized and interpreted fort structure, opened in 2004. Three years later, the city constructed the Fort Negley Visitors Center. The 2007 Supplement to the 1996 Master Plan, recommended reclamation of the eastern portion of Fort Negley Park once the Nashville Sounds vacated the property. The plan envisioned the addition of a Civil War museum and research center, a multi-purpose green space, and a pedestrian connection to the Nashville City Cemetery.
Of the five major fortifications constructed by 1864, only Fort Negley remains today.

Historic Nashville 2017 Nashville Nine Announcement
2017-10-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Fort Negley Visitor’s Center, 1100 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
At noon on October 6, Historic Nashville will announce the 2017 Nashville Nine list of our city’s historic properties endangered by demolition, neglect or development. Every year, the Nashville Nine is compiled through a public nomination process revealing historic buildings and places that matter to the people of our city. We invite you and your guests to attend the public announcement of this year’s list at the corner of Fort Negley Boulevard and Chestnut Street (in front of Fort Negley Park).

Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Printer's Alley Private Residence
2017-09-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Printer’s Alley Private Residence, 213 Printer's Alley, Nashville, TN, 37201, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of a private Printer’s Alley residence on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 10:00 AM

213 Printers Alley, Nashville is a private residence and success story of historic preservation. The home includes more than 9,000 sq. feet including 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 2 kitchens, a bar, 2 living rooms, a deck, a bar, lounge and a movie room. Gary Bowie, owner and wife Melody will lead us through this interesting home, which was renovated in 2012. The building dates to the late 1800s. During parts of the 20th century it was the residence of Jack Norman Sr., author of the historical book “The Nashville I Wish I Knew” and his son.
The tour will also include a walk-through of the historic and colorful Printer’s Alley which is undergoing a renaissance that includes numerous Airbnb’s and two adjacent hotels.
Meet at the north end of the alley.
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Gordon Jewish Community Center
2017-08-20 14:00 - 16:00 | TN
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of the Gordon Jewish Community Center by local author and historian Jean Roseman on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 2:00 PM
A presentation of the history of the 115 year old institution in its various iterations and locations will be followed by an introduction to the outstanding local Jewish archive housed at the Center. Staff will lead a conducted tour of the facility. We will also tour the Nashville Holocaust Memorial on the grounds with Felicia Anchor, who herself was born in a concentration camp.
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Nashville's Brewing History
2017-07-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Blackstone Brewing Company, 2312 Clifton Ave , Nashville, TN, 37209, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of Nashville’s Brewing History by local author and brewery owner, Scott R. Mertie
Known for country music, antebellum homes, the Parthenon, and Civil War battlefields, Nashville also has a rich brewing history that spans over 150 years. Several breweries were established in during the 1800s, but only one brewery survived to make it into the 20th Century. Scott R. Mertie, author of Nashville Brewing, will speak on an important but almost forgotten part of Nashville’s history.
Come join Historic Nashville, Inc. at Blackstone Brewing Company for a unique look into Nashville’s brewing history. Nashville Lager, a German helles beer based on a historic Nashville recipe, will be available during the presentation. Additional drinks and food will be available afterwards for purchase.
Mertie has been interested in the brewing industry since he started collecting beer cans as a six-year-old. As he became older, Scott expanded his hobby to include brewery advertising and home-brewing. Upon moving to Nashville in 1992, Scott visited the Gerst Haus restaurant and noticed vast amounts of breweriana displayed on the walls that once promoted the restaurant’s namesake a century earlier. This started his fascination with the brewing history of Nashville.
Click here to read more about brewer Scott Mertie: https://nashvillebrewing.com/background/
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the U.S. Customs House
2017-07-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Customs House, 701 Broadway, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of the U.S. Customs House in downtown Nashville on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 10:00 AM
One of the most grand structures in downtown Nashville, the U.S. Customs House dates back to 1877, when President Rutherford B. Hayes laid the first cornerstone. When it opened in 1882, the federal building housed Nashville’s main post office, the treasury department and justice department offices. Designed by William Appleton Potter, the ornate stone building features a Victorian Gothic style with a central clock tower that’s hard to miss. Additional construction to the building was added on in 1903 and 1916. In 1976, the building was turned over to the city, with a renovation taking place shortly after. Today, a private firm rents out office space inside. Gary Everton of EOA Architects in Nashville and Shawn Webb with Customs House Associates will graciously be guiding us along a rare tour of this magnificent building.
Parking & Meeting Instructions:
Parking:
There is a paid lot behind the Customs House. There will be 10 parking spaces available, so the first 10 persons attending will be able to park for free. There are also parking garages available at Music City Center at 7th and Demonbreun or the Nashville Public Library parking garage off of 7th in between Church and Commerce Streets. We must enter the building from the rear and go through a metal detector before gaining access. The tour will run between 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Meeting Location:
Meet inside the rear entrance to Customs House which is on the south side where all of the parking is located. There are only two doors facing the parking lot, the one closest to First Baptist Church is the public entry. Wait in the space inside the entrance before you get to the metal detectors.
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Stone Hall and Ravenwood
2017-06-10 10:00 - 23:30 | Stone Hall, 1014 Stones River Road , Hermitage, TN, 37076, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only walking tour of Stone Hall and Ravenwood, two former country estates in Hermitage, on Saturday June 10, 2017, at 10:00am.

Located on steep bluffs overlooking the Stones River, Stone Hall and Ravenwood were country estates built for affluent Nashville residents during the American Country Place Era, an important landscape design movement from 1895-1940. Country estates from that era are characterized by imposing residences, natural settings, picturesque landscapes, romantic gardens, and native building materials. This tour will begin at Stone Hall, a 1918 estate retaining the Colonial Revival-style stone residence, a log guest cabin, and landscaped grounds. The tour will end at Ravenwood, a 1903 estate that originally featured a stone residence, servant’s quarters, horse stables, and landscaping elements such as a manmade lake along the entrance drive, terraced gardens, and stone walls. In the 1950s, Ravenwood was converted into “The Ravenwood Club,” a 272-acre private recreational facility featuring a swimming pool, tennis courts, horseback riding, and a golf course. Since 2006, Metro Parks acquired Stone Hall as a greenway trailhead and Ravenwood for open space conservation. HNI board member Robbie D. Jones will lead this tour. RSVP at the link below.

Special Instructions:
Park along the right side of the circle driveway located in front of Stone Hall, located a 1014 Stones River Road, Hermitage, TN 37076. Leave room for cars to pass in the driveway. Do not park on the lawn. Due to limited parking, please carpool if possible.
In addition, this tour requires walking outside for approximately 1.6 miles, primarily along paved greenways and driveways. The tour may also require walking along some unimproved areas and unpaved trails. Please plan and dress accordingly. Pack water and other essentials.

Learn more about Stone Hall at http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Historic-Sites/Stone-Hall.aspx and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Hall,_Nashville

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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Amqui Station
2017-06-03 10:00 - 11:30 | Amqui Station, 303 Madison St, Madison, TN, 37115, United States
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of Amqui Station on Saturday, June 3rd, 2017 at 10:00 AM
The Amqui, Tennessee Passenger Station and Signal Tower was built by the Louisville & Nashville (L&N) Railroad in 1910. At its height during World War II, the Station served as many as 40 to 50 trains daily. Amqui Station continued to serve as a signal and switching station after passenger service was discontinued in the late 1950s. With the need for modernization of the switching and signaling system, the L&N vacated Amqui Station in early 1979.
Johnny Cash often visited the signalmen at Amqui Station during the 1970s. In fact, during a television show in the early 1970s that took a nostalgic look at the history of the American railroad as told in story and song by Johnny, he sang “The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore” while walking around the Amqui Station. Because of this love of trains, the railroad, and particularly Amqui Station, he acquired the old train station in 1979, saving it from demolition. He moved Amqui Station to Hendersonville and renovated it to display his collection of train memorabilia and as an antique shop for June Carter Cash. It returned home to Madison and was opened in 2010 as a local visitor’s center and museum.
For more information about Amqui Station visit the website at www.amquistation.org, or Facebook page (facebook.com/AmquiStation)
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Omohundro Water Treatment Plant
2017-05-13 10:00 - 12:00 | TN
Join Historic Nashville for a MEMBERS-ONLY tour of Omohundro Water Treatment Plant on May 13th, 2017.
The Omohundro Water Treatment Plant began in 1889 with the completion of the George Reyer Pumping Station and boiler house designed by Nashville architect, C.K. Colley. Steam powered pumps were used to pull water from the river and send it to the City Reservoir, originally constructed as a settling basin for the water before it was distributed. The first filtration treatment began in 1929 with the completion of the filtration building at the Omohundro campus. Although now using electric power rather than steam, all of these facilities remain in operation today, cleaning and distributing millions of gallons of water every day. Both the treatment plant and the reservoir are architectural treasures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a must see.
Additionally, a tour of the 8th Avenue Reservoir is anticipated, but due to upgrades currently in progress, this portion of the tour is tentative based on the construction schedule.
PLEASE NOTE: This tour is very limited and is strictly MEMBERS ONLY.
IMPORTANT INFO:
Carpooling is strongly encouraged. We will meet in the parking lot of the trolley barns by Pinewood Social. Please be in the lot on Lea avenue to the west of the bus barns no later than 9:45 AM.
Address is: 33 Peabody St Nashville, TN 37210 Map
If you have questions or concerns on the day of the event please call (312) 860-0307

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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Temple Cemetery
2017-05-07 14:00 - 15:00 | TN
Join Historic Nashville for a members-only tour of Temple Cemetery on Sunday, May 7th, 2017 at 2:00 PM
**Note, this is the rain makeup tour from the previously scheduled tour on April 23rd.**
Jews have had a significant role in Nashville’s history since the early 1800s. Many are buried in the Temple Cemetery which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Join us for a walk through this historic cemetery and learn about Jewish burial practices and the intriguing stories of those who made Nashville their home and contributed to its unique history.
GPS driving directions may not lead to the correct entrance. Please follow the directions below:
Go Rosa Parks Blvd either from downtown or get off I-65 at Rosa Parks.
Cross the Interstate and go to the first traffic light.
Turn left on Dominican Drive.
Pass the Maxwell House and John Early School on the right.
Dominican Drive will become Cass St.
Continue to 15th Avenue North and turn left at the stop sign. G
o down almost the entire block until you see the Temple Cemetery entrance on the right.
We will meet at the historic markers right after you enter.
Hope to see you there!
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Jane's Walk - Music Row Makes Nashville Music City
2017-05-06 14:00 - 15:30 | Mike Curb College of Entertainment, 34 Music Square E, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Led by Carolyn Brackett and Robbie Jones
For more than 60 years, songs and sounds coming from Music Row have made Nashville known around the world as Music City. This tour will share insights into how Music Row began, walk past some of the buildings where music history was made, and highlight the stories of famous songs and singers as well as the industry that brings this creativity to the world. The tour will also discuss current threats to Music Row and work underway to ensure a sustainable future for this unique cultural industry district.
Meet in front of Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Business/Columbia-Quonset Hut
This walking tour is part of Jane’s Walk. Jane’s Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbours. Find out more at janeswalk.org
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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of “Hiding in Plain Sight” An Exhibit of Photos and Stories of Nashville’s Unique Places
2017-04-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Downtown Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St, Nashville, TN, 37219, United States
Historic Nashville members are invited to a behind-the-scenes guided tour of a new exhibit, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the downtown Nashville Public Library.
As a special treat for Historic Nashville members, the tour will be led by the exhibit’s creators, artist Anna Jaap and writer Robert K. Oermann.
The exhibit sheds a new light on local places residents might consider “ordinary” – until they learn about notable things that happened there.
As our tour guides, Anna Jaap and Robert Oermann will share their stories of collaborating to select the unique places featured this exhibit of photos and stories including the homes once occupied by music legends Patsy Cline and Hank Williams; the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant; Nashville’s first automobile factory; local churches with notable Civil Rights movement history; and even the spot where Lay’s potato chips were once made.
If you are not already a member of Historic Nashville, follow this link to join: http://historicnashvilleinc.org/get-involved/join/.

About the Exhibit Creators
Anna Jaap took her first photos at age 15 using a vintage German camera. She received her BFA from Lipscomb University, and has worked as a studio artist for 25 years. Acclaimed for their color sensibility and affinity for nature, her pieces have been exhibited across the United States and are collected internationally. She lives in Nashville, and serves on the board of Watkins College of Art.
Robert K. Oermann is known as the “dean of Nashville’s entertainment journalists.” He has authored eight books about the city’s music history, and his work has been published in more than 100 periodicals, more than 50 TV specials and 129 record-album liner-note essays. He is vice president of the Recording Academy in Music City and serves on the board of the Nashville Public Library.
Meet at: Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street
Second Floor, Courtyard Gallery

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Historic Nashville Behind-the-Scenes Tour of The Changing Architecture of 8th and 9th Avenues
2017-03-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Downtown Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St, Nashville, TN, 37219, United States
Historian and author Ralcon Wagner will lead a short walking tour of historic buildings, past and present, along Church Street, Seventh and Eighth Avenues and Broadway to Union Station, discussing how the area has changed over the years, and what the future looks like. This route was chosen because of the impending redevelopment of this area and possible demolition of future historic buildings.

Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended.
The tour will meet in the lobby of the main library at 10:00 AM.
Parking is available in the garage behind the library at a reasonable rate.

Hope to see you there!

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