NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A“NASH-IONAL” TREASURE By Janet Steinberg
Music City, U.S.A....that's where
it’s.
Nashville's heart beats to music.
Folk music that crossed the Smokies with early settlers…toe-tapping fiddle and
banjo music…mournful hill ballads. The music of America…tunes that grew
into down home "hillbilly" music that filled the barns and the
countryside.
With the advent of The Grand Ole Opry
and television, that music grew into a gentle, more sophisticated,
country-western sound. Known as "The Nashville Sound", this
music is loved throughout the world and earned Nashville its name: Music City,
U.S.A.
Nashville, the progressive vital city
with a colorful past and an exciting future, has something for everyone.
From stately historical mansions and cultural landmarks to stark skyscrapers;
from a mega-million dollar music industry to rolling hills and rambling horse
farms; from Capitol Hill to 17 college campuses; from greens 'n hawg jawls to knishes
, latkes , and filet mignon; from the Nashville Symphony and Ballet to the
Grand Ole Opry.
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| FROM STARK SKYSCRAPERS TO HONKY-TONK HEAVEN IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE |
On November 28, 1925, Uncle Jimmy
Thompson, who claimed he could "fiddle the bugs off a 'tater vine,"
stepped up to the microphone and struck the first lively notes of the "WSM
Barn Dance".
Two years later, 'The Solemn Old Judge'
accidently gave the show its permanent name. He opened the WSM Country
Music Show, which followed a program of classical music, with his now-famous
ad-libbed words: "For the past hour you've been listening to Grand
Opera. Now we will present Grand Ole Opry!" That was the
beginning of the world's oldest continuing radio program in existence.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world travel to Music
City U.S.A. to see The Opry in the world's largest broadcasting studio.
The Grand Ole Opry House seats 4000 people in air-conditioned comfort, with
standing room available for an additional 200 fans. On March 16, 1974,
The Grand Ole Opry House was dedicated as the home of American Music by
then-President Richard M. Nixon.
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THE GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE
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The Opry entertains America with a
spontaneous, unpretentious happening. Its down-to-earth music is telling
life's harsh story. It is true that no single Grand Ole Opry performance
ever happens twice. But it is not true that the show has not been carefully
programmed or well planned. A dedicated staff spends long exacting hours
making sure the world's greatest country music show flows smoothly 52 weeks of
the year.
Each Grand Ole Opry show is unique and
spontaneous, but each show is also steeped in tradition. The brown circle
of wood in the center of the stage was taken from the Opry's former home, the
Ryman Auditorium. And every star can stand in the same spot as Opry stars
have done for so many years.
Ryman Auditorium, dubbed the "Mother
Church of Country Music" was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from
1941-1974. The large red brick structure was built in 1891 as the Union
Gospel Tabernacle for religious revival meetings. After a multi-million
dollar renovation, this Nashville landmark has once again taken center stage as
a premier performance facility.
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| RYMAN AUDITORIUM |
In 2001, The Country Music Hall Of Fame
moved into a symbolic building with architectural and structural elements
that tell a musical story. Windows resemble piano keys; the Rotunda tower
is a replica of the WSM radio tower; disc-shaped tiers of the Rotunda’s roof
evoke the evolution of recording media; and stone bars on the outside wall
symbolize the musical notes of the classic Carter Family song “Will the Circle
Be Unbroken”.
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| COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM |
For culture of a different nature you
can visit the Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson's former home; the
Parthenon, a full-size replica of the ancient Parthenon in Greece;
Cheekwood, the 1920's Georgian mansion that is now the Museum of Art;
and Belle Meade Plantation, the "Queen of Tennessee Plantations”.
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| NASHVILLE’S REPLICA OF THE GREEK PARTHENON IN CENTENNIAL PARK |
Opryland Hotel, built in 1977 and
containing approximately 3000 rooms is an attraction in and of itself.
Born to a grand tradition, the hotel recreates an old Southern lodging.
The Grand Lobby, with its huge staircase, golden chandelier and wood-burning
twin fireplaces, welcomes you to Tennessee hospitality at its finest.
In June 1996, Opryland Hotel introduced
a 4.5-acre interiorscape called "The Delta" complete with a river
system with guided boats, shops, and approximately 20 dining and drinking
options. Today there are 9 acres of
lush, indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls. Opening on December 1, 2018 is
SoundWaves, an upscale water experience featuring 4 acres of
combined indoor & outdoor water attractions.
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| INDOOR GARDENS AND CASCADING WATERFALLS WITHIN OPRYLAND HOTEL |
If you care to dine outside the confines
of this humongous compound, try some unbridled barbeque at the 66,000
square-foot Wildhorse Saloon. This mecca of Country Dance in America literally
began with a stampede of wild horses through the streets of Music City on June
1, 1994. Two must-see stops are the renowned Bluebird Cafe and Tootsies’
Orchid Lounge.
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| THE RENOWNED BLUEBIRD CAFE |
The Bluebird Cafe, a
Nashville classic, is where young star-seeking songwriters tout their tunes as
you dine. Willie Nelson
received his first songwriting gig after singing at Tootsies, the
58-year old honky-tonk bar in downtown Nashville.
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| TOOTSIES ORCHID LOUNGE |
If shopping is an integral part of your
travels, you'll have fun in Nashville. Items associated with Music City,
such as vintage records, cowboy boots and musical instruments, are plentiful.
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| FOR GUITARS FOR EVERY TASTE AND POCKET BOOK |
However, no one should leave Nashville
without buying some chocolate-covered, peanut-caramel Goo Goo Clusters.
Made in Nashville since 1912, they are part of the Music City experience.
Legend has it that the candy was named Goo Goo because
it’s the first thing a baby says, and this Southern treat is so good people
will ask for it from birth.
Good music, good food, good shopping,
good people and good times are all in abundance in Music City, U.S.A. As
a confirmed “Nash-ionalist”, I recommend y'all try it. You'll have a Goo
Goo good time!
JANET STEINBERG
is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International Travel Consultant
with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in CINCINNATI, OHIO. She is the
winner of 47 national Travel Writing Awards.
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