Sightseeing in Nashville - what to see. Complete travel guide

In the United States of America, in the country’s south-west to be precise, lies the city of Nashville that is the capital of the Tennessee State. Nowadays, this is a prosperous city that is widely recognized as the birthplace of country music. Thanks to the popularity of this music genre, millions of people around the world found out about Nashville. Do you enjoy listening to country music? One of the local museums is dedicated to it. This is the right venue to learn more about the history of this genre of popular music and see famous performers. The architectural heritage of this city invites tourists to make a journey to the past and see how this American state lived in the previous centuries. The majority of the buildings belong to the 19th century.

Such Native American tribes as Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee were the first settlers in the area of the modern Tennessee State. Hunting was the main occupation of these people. In 1779, the Virginia natives founded a settlement in the deserted area. They called the new town after General Francis Nash. The newly founded town developed quickly thanks to its beneficial geographic location. Seven years after the foundation, the town got its first codex. Another thirty years later, Nashville became the capital of Tennessee. Until the Civil War in the United States, Nashville was a prosperous city and a major river port.

After a series of battles in February 1862, the Union Army captured the city. They had to restore many buildings as a large part of the city was in ruins. As the state was occupied by the Union forces until the end of the war and there were no more battles in the area, Nashville recovered quickly. As the city kept developing, many new and beautiful buildings appeared here. Nowadays, these are good examples of classic architecture, many of which have survived until our days. In the 90s of the 20th century, Nashville entered the stage of the third economic boom. This significantly helped local authorities to “revitalize” the city center. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Perhaps, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the most famous attraction in Nashville. This is the most visited establishment of this type in the United States. The main purpose of the Hall of Fame was to collect and save all precious artifacts that are in some way connected to American vernacular music and its history. During a visit to this museum, it is possible to see many unique exhibits such as private items of music stars. The numerous collections of the museum feature instruments that once belonged to legendary musicians, as well as their music notes and costumes, in which they played during performances.

Tourists from all over the world who like country music come to this museum to see with their own eyes the famous Cadillac, which belonged to Elvis Presley. Besides this car, the museum exhibits two more vehicles. One of these vehicles is Pontiac Bonneville made in 1963. Another famous musician - Webb Pierce – was driving that car. The other car is featured in Smokey and the Bandit II film. The museum has a recording studio where everyone can demonstrate their vocal skills and sing with karaoke. There are also daily masterclasses that teach how to make catchy and attractive posters.

One more attraction, which Nashville is very proud of, is situated on the top of the highest hill in the central part of the city. This is the Tennessee State Capitol. The building features Greek neoclassic architecture. There is a small chapel on the top of the building. The four porticos on the sides of the building make the capitol look like an Ionian temple. The building of the city’s attraction started in 1845. To build the striking Capitol, builders brought limestone mined in a query not far from Nashville. Inside the Tennessee State Capitol, there is a museum that exhibits various historic artifacts.

Are you interested in places to visit together with children? There is an interesting zoo in Nashville, a visit to which is like a journey to the African savannah, after which you move to South American rainforests, and see the indigenous Asian fauna. Some animal species are very rare. For example, the clouded leopard is an endangered feline, which fur is very valuable on the black market. The Baird’s tapir is almost extinct because the natural habitat of this animal – tropical forests – disappears due to the anthropogenic factors. There are also toucans, gorgeous Bengal tigers, and many other animals. All animal cages are big and mimic the natural habitat of every species.

Most European countries do not have direct flights to Nashville, so tourists usually need to make a connecting flight to New York, Washington, or Atlanta first. It is important to mention that the first variant is usually the most affordable. After that, take a domestic flight to the “birthplace of the country music”. At the Nashville airport, tourists can use public transport or get a taxi to the city center. Besides that, it is always possible to rent a car for the time of your vacation in this wonderful city.