DRL Photography / 500px


Built in 1897 to celebrate the state of Tennessee's centenary, Nashville's Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the Ancient Greece original, with a jaw-dropping huge statue of the goddess Athena draped in gold as its centerpiece. Other exhibits include casts of the pediments' sculptures, and galleries displaying paintings by 19th- and 20th-century American artists.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nashville attractions

1. Centennial Park

0.09 MILES

An easy 1-mile trail loops around a lake in this lovely 132-acre park, with the Parthenon anchoring the western horizon. Vast lawns beg for picnics while…

2. Vanderbilt University

0.58 MILES

This prestigious university was founded in 1833 by railway magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. The 330-acre campus buzzes with about 12,000 students on lush and…

3. Fannie Mae Dees Park

0.92 MILES

A colorful dragon sculpture lurks in the heart of this busy park, luring hordes of small children eager to scramble over its serpentine back. There's also…

4. Cohen Memorial Hall Gallery

0.93 MILES

Located on Vanderbilt's freshman Peabody College campus, the gallery showcases an array of rotating seasonal exhibitions.

5. Historic RCA Studio B

1.14 MILES

One of Music Row's most historic studios, this is where Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton all recorded numerous hits. The latter did a little…

6. Music Row

1.24 MILES

Just west of downtown, sections of 16th and 17th Aves, called Music Sq West and Music Sq East, are home to the production companies, record labels, agents…

7. Jefferson Street Sound

1.37 MILES

Musicians like Muddy Waters, Etta James and Jimi Hendrix all played in clubs on Jefferson St, the heart of the city's Black community during segregation…

8. Belmont Mansion

1.42 MILES

The story of Belmont Mansion is the story of Adelicia Acklen, a Nashville socialite turned savvy businesswoman. One maneuver of note? Asking her second…