Located in downtown Nashville between 4th and 5th Ave, one block north of Broadway, Ryman Auditorium is known as the "Mother Church of Country Music". It is the single most historic site in the world of country music, and former home of the Grand Ole Opry between 1943 and 1974. In fact, it still hosts the Grand Ole Opry during the winter months (Nov - Feb) these days. We took the backstage tour which I highly recommend. You get to see the dressing rooms, many historic photos, and hear the stories. I appreciated the Grand Ole Opry show we saw the night before a lot more after we toured the Ryman Auditorium.
1. Inside the Ryman Auditorium. Comparing to the giant 4400-seat Grand Ole Opry House, the 2362-seat Ryman Auditorium felt so much more intimate. You never know who you will see at the Ryman Auditorium when you visit. The lady who worked there told us, one time she had a visitor asking if he could use his own guitar on stage. (For $5, you can have your photos taken on stage holding the guitars they provided) She said yes, so he fetched his guitar, and sang on the stage with it. A bunch of people in the audience started to cheer like crazy. It turned out the young man was a former Canadian Idol winner.
2. Country Music Hall of Fame, located in downtown Nashville, two blocks south of the Ryman Auditorium.
3. Downtown Nashville. From left, they are the Gaylord Entertainment Center, the First Baptist Church, and the Customs House.
4. Downtown Nashville landmark. Locals call it the Batman building.
5. The State Capital.
No. 5 The Parthenon.
Located in the Centennial Park, one mile west of downtown Nashville, near the Vanderbilt University, the Parthenon is a full-size replica of the Athens Parthenon. It is originally built in 1897, and rebuilt in the 1920s with concrete.
6. The Parthenon.
7. The Parthenon.
Tip: Pick up a copy of the "Nashville Attractions Guide" at any tourist center. It has coupons inside for the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and Country Music Hall of Fame.
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