Nashville's Centennial Park

Nashville's Centennial Park is located on the West End of Nashville, just across the street from Vanderbilt University. The park is comprised of 132 acres, that was originally farmland, owned by Anne Robertson Johnson Cockrill. Cockrill was the sister of General James Robertson and was also the first school teacher in the state. After serving as farmland, the site then became a racetrack for horses. The track was known as "West Side Park." In 1897, the area was used for the celebration of the Tennessee Centennial. As part of the celebration, a full scale replica of the Parthenon was constructed, as well as a pyramid. There was also a man made lake that was dug, known as Lake Watauga. The Centennial Celebration lasted from May to October of that year. During those six months, there were approximately 1.8 million visitors. When the celebration was over, the pyramid, as well as other temporary buildings were razed. The Parthenon, however, was saved from demolition. This was due in part to a high cost of demolition, as well as the popularity of the structure. The Parthenon led to Nashville being given the nickname "Athens of the South." The Parthenon has since been converted into an art gallery and serves as the centerpiece of the park. During the Civil Rights struggle of the 1950s and 60s, the park was off limits to African-Americans. Today the park is host to thousands of visitors a year. In addition to the Parthenon and Lake Watauga, the park has other attractions, such as an F-86L Sabre Jet, and a Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis steam locomotive. Centennial Park is and continues to remain a popular Nashville attraction, just like the Ryman Auditorium, the State Capitol Building, and Vanderbilt's historic Memorial Gymnasium.

Centennial Park during the 1897 Centennial celebration.

Aerial painting of the 1897 Centennial celebration.

Aerial view of the park today.

The F-86L Sabre Jet 

The Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis steam locomotive, known as 576.

Stay tuned next week for another installment of my Throwback Thursday series. Be sure to visit the section of the blog devoted to Moore Historical Consulting. I have all your historical research and heritage management needs covered. Put me to work for you!!