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The Parthenon, Nashville, TN

Photo: Marialorelyn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffRainy-Day Pick

The Parthenon

2500 West End Ave · Nashville, TN

Why you should go…

A full-scale replica of the Athenian temple stands in Centennial Park, first built for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition and later rebuilt in concrete. Inside, Alan LeQuire's gilded statue of Athena rises 42 feet with a figure of Nike in her palm. The building is also an art museum, with the Cowan Collection of 63 American paintings and plaster casts of the Parthenon Marbles alongside changing exhibitions.

  • #art museum
  • #architecture
  • #centennial park
  • #athena statue
  • #landmark

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to The Parthenon, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Frist Art Museum

    Under $25

    See rotating art exhibitions and hands-on art making inside Nashville's former main post office, an Art Deco landmark on Broadway.

    1.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Theatre & Events
    Iconic

    Bridgestone Arena

    $50+

    Watch Nashville Predators hockey, big-name concerts and awards shows in a downtown arena at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue.

    2.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Theatre & Events
    Iconic

    Ryman Auditorium

    $25–$50

    Tour the 1892 tabernacle that housed the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, take a photo on its stage, or come back at night for a concert.

    2.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery

    $25–$50

    Tour an 1853 Greek Revival mansion that anchored a famed thoroughbred stud farm, then taste wine at the on-site winery.

    4.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Date Night

    Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

    $25–$50

    Stroll 55 acres of themed gardens and tour a 1930s Georgian-style mansion that now houses art exhibitions on Nashville's west side.

    5.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

    $25–$50

    Tour Andrew Jackson's Greek Revival mansion, then walk the gardens, museum exhibits and the tomb where he and Rachel are buried.

    12 mi awayMore like this