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History of Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Journey back in time to Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Explore Nashville, Tennessee, USA! Uncover its rich history and discover the stories of the people who once called it home. Dive into old newspaper articles, vintage pictures, postcards, and genealogy to learn more about this fascinating town.Do You Have Nashville Ancestry? Share YOUR Family Story!
Nashville's Grand Ole Opry is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world. It has broadcast every Friday and Saturday night since 1925.
The nation's oldest African-American financial institution, Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company, is located in Nashville.
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Nashville Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards
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Discover Nashville: History, News, Travel, and Stories
1854 - Nashville
Nashville, a handsome and flourishing city, capital of the State of Tennessee, and of Davidson county, is situated on the left bank of Cumberland river, 200 miles from its mouth, 230 miles E. N. E. from Memphis, 200 miles S. W. from Lexington, in Kentucky, and 884 miles from Washington. Lat. 36°9'N., Lon. 80° 49' W. ; elevation above the sea, 460 feet. It is the most wealthy and populous city of Tennessee, and is distinguished for its enterprising spirit, literary taste, and polished society. Many of the private residences are built on a scale of palatial magnitude and splendor, and the public buildings exhibit a corresponding character. The new capitol, which stands on a commanding eminence, 175 feet above the river, is one of the most noble, magnificent, and costly structures in America. The material is of a fine limestone, which was quarried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble. The dimensions are 240 feet by 135, and the estimated cost $1,000,000. It is built, as it is stated, ... Read MORE...
Nashville, a handsome and flourishing city, capital of the State of Tennessee, and of Davidson county, is situated on the left bank of Cumberland river, 200 miles from its mouth, 230 miles E. N. E. from Memphis, 200 miles S. W. from Lexington, in Kentucky, and 884 miles from Washington. Lat. 36°9'N., Lon. 80° 49' W. ; elevation above the sea, 460 feet. It is the most wealthy and populous city of Tennessee, and is distinguished for its enterprising spirit, literary taste, and polished society. Many of the private residences are built on a scale of palatial magnitude and splendor, and the public buildings exhibit a corresponding character. The new capitol, which stands on a commanding eminence, 175 feet above the river, is one of the most noble, magnificent, and costly structures in America. The material is of a fine limestone, which was quarried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble. The dimensions are 240 feet by 135, and the estimated cost $1,000,000. It is built, as it is stated, ... Read MORE...
1869 - Nashville, Tenn., was recently visited with a serious conflagration, which destroyed property to the extent of $235,000.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 3, 1869
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 3, 1869
1892 - AWFUL FIRE IN NASHVILLE.
Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 4. - Ten years ago, in May, the most disastrous fire that Nashville has ever had occurred around the corner of College and Church streets. Saturday another fire burned over the site of the fire of ten years ago, causing a loss of fully $600,000. The fire started in the rear of the store occupied by WEBB, STEVENSON & Co., house furnishers, at 5:50, and was not gotten under control until 10 p.m. Four colored firemen lost their lives. They were fighting the fire at the time, standing on a three story building, occupied by PHILLIPS, BURTOFF & Company. They were pouring a stream of water into the second story building of A. J. WARREN, when it toppled over upon them, crushing them all to death. Their names are as follows:
CAPTAIN C. C. GOWDY.
AARON COCKRELL.
STOKES ALLEN.
HARVEY EWING.
There is but little doubt the fire was of incendiary origin, as, while fighting the fire, one of the firemen saw an unknown white deliberately set fire to ATWELL & SNEED'S... Read MORE...
Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 4. - Ten years ago, in May, the most disastrous fire that Nashville has ever had occurred around the corner of College and Church streets. Saturday another fire burned over the site of the fire of ten years ago, causing a loss of fully $600,000. The fire started in the rear of the store occupied by WEBB, STEVENSON & Co., house furnishers, at 5:50, and was not gotten under control until 10 p.m. Four colored firemen lost their lives. They were fighting the fire at the time, standing on a three story building, occupied by PHILLIPS, BURTOFF & Company. They were pouring a stream of water into the second story building of A. J. WARREN, when it toppled over upon them, crushing them all to death. Their names are as follows:
CAPTAIN C. C. GOWDY.
AARON COCKRELL.
STOKES ALLEN.
HARVEY EWING.
There is but little doubt the fire was of incendiary origin, as, while fighting the fire, one of the firemen saw an unknown white deliberately set fire to ATWELL & SNEED'S... Read MORE...
1895 - Nashville
Nashville, a handsome city, capital of the state of Tennessee, and of Davidson co., is situated on the left bank of the Cumberland River, 200 miles from its mouth, 233 miles E.N.E. of Memphis, 206 miles S.W. of Lexington, Ky., and 684 miles from Washington. Lat. 36° 9' N.; lon. 86°49'W.; elevation above the sea, 460 feet. It is the most wealthy and populous city of Tennessee, except Memphis, and is distinguished for its enterprising spirit, literary taste, and polished society. Many of the private residences are built on a scale of palatial magnitude and £ and the public buildings exhibit a corresponding character. The capitol, which stands on a commanding eminence, 175 feet above the river, is a magnificent structure. The material is a fine limestone, which was quarried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble. The dimensions are 240 feet by 135 feet, and the estimated cost $1,500,000. It is built, it is stated, entirely of stone and iron, without any wood about it, except the... Read MORE...
Nashville, a handsome city, capital of the state of Tennessee, and of Davidson co., is situated on the left bank of the Cumberland River, 200 miles from its mouth, 233 miles E.N.E. of Memphis, 206 miles S.W. of Lexington, Ky., and 684 miles from Washington. Lat. 36° 9' N.; lon. 86°49'W.; elevation above the sea, 460 feet. It is the most wealthy and populous city of Tennessee, except Memphis, and is distinguished for its enterprising spirit, literary taste, and polished society. Many of the private residences are built on a scale of palatial magnitude and £ and the public buildings exhibit a corresponding character. The capitol, which stands on a commanding eminence, 175 feet above the river, is a magnificent structure. The material is a fine limestone, which was quarried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble. The dimensions are 240 feet by 135 feet, and the estimated cost $1,500,000. It is built, it is stated, entirely of stone and iron, without any wood about it, except the... Read MORE...
1895 - Blizzard - THE STORM STILL HOVERS OVER THE UNITED STATES. IT IS SEVEREST IN THE EAST. TRAFFIC ALMOST ENTIRELY AT A STANDSTILL -- RAILROAD TRAINS BLOCKADED -- BUSINESS PARALYZED -- PEOPLE FROZEN TO DEATH AT SEVERAL PLACES...
...Business Suspended In Tennessee.
Nashville, Feb. 9. - The lowest temperature during the past 24 hours was 6 1/ 2 below zero. There is much suffering among the needy classes. Because of ice in river navigation as been suspended. Reports from interior towns state all business is suspended...
The Delphos Daily Herald
Delphos, Ohio
February 9, 1895
...Business Suspended In Tennessee.
Nashville, Feb. 9. - The lowest temperature during the past 24 hours was 6 1/ 2 below zero. There is much suffering among the needy classes. Because of ice in river navigation as been suspended. Reports from interior towns state all business is suspended...
The Delphos Daily Herald
Delphos, Ohio
February 9, 1895
1897 - Tennessee Centennial Exposition held in Nashville to celebrate state's 100th birthday
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ usstates/ tntimeln.htm
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ usstates/ tntimeln.htm
1897 - Nashville - Cotton candy is a soft confection made from sugar that is heated and spun into slim threads that look like a mass of cotton. It was invented in 1897 by William Morrison and John C. Wharton, candymakers from Nashville, Tennessee.
www.enchantedlearning.com/ inventors/ us.shtml
www.enchantedlearning.com/ inventors/ us.shtml
1900 - Nashville - The Advance-Guard of Western Civilization by Gates P. Thurston
The beautiful site upon which the city of Nashville stands must have been famous in prehistoric times. Its natural salt spring near the bank of the Cumberland River was a noted resort of the Indian and buffalo. Some years ago, the huge bones of a mastodon were exhumed from the alluvial deposit upon its margin. Near the flowing spring was an ancient cemetery of the long vanished Stone Grave race, the mound builders, of Tennessee, and upon the opposite bank of the river and in the adjacent valleys have been found not less than ten thousand rude stone cists containing their mortuary remains. These interesting memorials have yielded a vast store of archaeologically treasures, illustrating their arts and industries and telling a pathetic story of aboriginal life in the valley of the Cumberland.
A race of Village Indians, probably akin to the Pueblo Builders or Village Indians of New Mexico and Arizona, once made their home in Middle Tennessee and the adjacent territory. These... Read MORE...
The beautiful site upon which the city of Nashville stands must have been famous in prehistoric times. Its natural salt spring near the bank of the Cumberland River was a noted resort of the Indian and buffalo. Some years ago, the huge bones of a mastodon were exhumed from the alluvial deposit upon its margin. Near the flowing spring was an ancient cemetery of the long vanished Stone Grave race, the mound builders, of Tennessee, and upon the opposite bank of the river and in the adjacent valleys have been found not less than ten thousand rude stone cists containing their mortuary remains. These interesting memorials have yielded a vast store of archaeologically treasures, illustrating their arts and industries and telling a pathetic story of aboriginal life in the valley of the Cumberland.
A race of Village Indians, probably akin to the Pueblo Builders or Village Indians of New Mexico and Arizona, once made their home in Middle Tennessee and the adjacent territory. These... Read MORE...
1906
Nashville, a city, capital of the state of Tennessee and of Davison co., is situated on the Cumberland River, mainly on the left bank, 192 miles from its mouth and 186 miles SSW. of Louisville, Ky., on the Louisville and Nashville, the Tennessee Central and the Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Louis Rs. Lat. of observatory, 36° 8' 54" N. ; Ion. 86° 48' 5" W. Elevation above the sea, 550 feet. It is the most populous city of Tennessee after Memphis. The most prominent public building is the state capital, erected on a commanding eminence, with a tower 205 feet high. Other buildings of note are the Federal building, court house, custom-house, blind asylum, the state penitentiary, and the Parthenon. Many of the private residences are stately mansions. Nashville is noted for its system of public schools and is one of the foremost educational centres in the South. The city is the seat of Nashville University, founded in 1806 (with a medical department ; the academic department is now the... Read MORE...
Nashville, a city, capital of the state of Tennessee and of Davison co., is situated on the Cumberland River, mainly on the left bank, 192 miles from its mouth and 186 miles SSW. of Louisville, Ky., on the Louisville and Nashville, the Tennessee Central and the Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Louis Rs. Lat. of observatory, 36° 8' 54" N. ; Ion. 86° 48' 5" W. Elevation above the sea, 550 feet. It is the most populous city of Tennessee after Memphis. The most prominent public building is the state capital, erected on a commanding eminence, with a tower 205 feet high. Other buildings of note are the Federal building, court house, custom-house, blind asylum, the state penitentiary, and the Parthenon. Many of the private residences are stately mansions. Nashville is noted for its system of public schools and is one of the foremost educational centres in the South. The city is the seat of Nashville University, founded in 1806 (with a medical department ; the academic department is now the... Read MORE...
1918 - July 9 - 101 killed & 171 injured in worst US train wreck, Nashville, Tenn
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July 9, 1918
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July 9, 1918
1926 - June 19 - DeFord Bailey is 1st black to perform on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry
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June 19, 1926
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June 19, 1926
1933 - Nashville Counts Ten Dead, Pruden Eight. Several Other Communities Lashed. LIST GROWS.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Mar. 15 (AP) - The mad caprice of a tornado which lashed the Tennessee-Kentucky border last night left a toll of 35 known dead and more than 200 injured in the wreckage of homes which marked its path from the Mississippi to the Cumberland Mountains.
Launching its career on the Arkansas and Missouri side of the Mississippi early in the night, the twister swept down on Nashville and then on to the east, spending its fury in a final burst of destruction at and near Kingsport.
Through Lebanon, Harrogate and Jellico the storm marked its path of destruction, wrecking numerous smaller towns and villages as it went.
List Grows
The list of dead grew slowly today as rescue workers dug in the wreckage of homes along the route of the twister, and reports trickled in from rural communities as communication lines were reestablished.
Nashville had at least 10 dead; Pruden 9; Lebanon 4; Kingsport 6; Bellwood 1; Harrogate 2; Rogersville 2; Oswego 1.
While refugees... Read MORE...
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Mar. 15 (AP) - The mad caprice of a tornado which lashed the Tennessee-Kentucky border last night left a toll of 35 known dead and more than 200 injured in the wreckage of homes which marked its path from the Mississippi to the Cumberland Mountains.
Launching its career on the Arkansas and Missouri side of the Mississippi early in the night, the twister swept down on Nashville and then on to the east, spending its fury in a final burst of destruction at and near Kingsport.
Through Lebanon, Harrogate and Jellico the storm marked its path of destruction, wrecking numerous smaller towns and villages as it went.
List Grows
The list of dead grew slowly today as rescue workers dug in the wreckage of homes along the route of the twister, and reports trickled in from rural communities as communication lines were reestablished.
Nashville had at least 10 dead; Pruden 9; Lebanon 4; Kingsport 6; Bellwood 1; Harrogate 2; Rogersville 2; Oswego 1.
While refugees... Read MORE...
1941 - March 1 - 1st US commercial FM radio station goes on the air, Nashville, Tenn
historyorb.com
March 1, 1941
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March 1, 1941
1957 - 4 HURTLE 700 FEET TO DEATHS AS GIANT TOWER COLLAPSES.
Nashville, Tenn. (AP) - Four men working 700 feet above the ground were hurled to their deaths yesterday when a nearly completed, giant television tower buckled and crumbled to the ground.
The tower broke in the middle and both sections collapsed in a heavily populated residential area but miraculously did not strike any houses.
The new 1,262-foot broadcasting tower, which was to have been 1,379 feet when topped with the antenna, was being built for station WSM-TV by the John F. Beasley Construction Co. of Muskogee, Okla.
The four dead, workers for the construction company, were identified as:
DONALD WARD KINNAN, 25, Tucson, Ariz.
GEORGE PRESLER, 33, Union City, Tenn.
RAY H. MAXWELL, 33, Jacksonville, Fla.
ROBERT LEE KIRSHNER, 30, California, Mo.
HAROLD O'NEAL, 29, of Boonville, N.Y., a fifth steelworker, was treated for shock. O'NEAL had just climbed down from the tower and was inside the transmitter station.
Officials of the construction firm were at a loss to... Read MORE...
Nashville, Tenn. (AP) - Four men working 700 feet above the ground were hurled to their deaths yesterday when a nearly completed, giant television tower buckled and crumbled to the ground.
The tower broke in the middle and both sections collapsed in a heavily populated residential area but miraculously did not strike any houses.
The new 1,262-foot broadcasting tower, which was to have been 1,379 feet when topped with the antenna, was being built for station WSM-TV by the John F. Beasley Construction Co. of Muskogee, Okla.
The four dead, workers for the construction company, were identified as:
DONALD WARD KINNAN, 25, Tucson, Ariz.
GEORGE PRESLER, 33, Union City, Tenn.
RAY H. MAXWELL, 33, Jacksonville, Fla.
ROBERT LEE KIRSHNER, 30, California, Mo.
HAROLD O'NEAL, 29, of Boonville, N.Y., a fifth steelworker, was treated for shock. O'NEAL had just climbed down from the tower and was inside the transmitter station.
Officials of the construction firm were at a loss to... Read MORE...
1960 - Students held sit-in demonstrations at Nashville lunch counters
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ usstates/ tntimeln.htm
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ usstates/ tntimeln.htm
Here's a mix of popular and local-favorite places to go and things to do in Nashville:
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
Explore the history of country music and see artifacts from legendary artists.
Ryman Auditorium:
Attend a live performance at this iconic venue, known as the "Mother Church of Country Music."
Grand Ole Opry:
Catch a show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, a must for any country music fan.
Broadway Honky Tonk Row:
Experience the vibrant nightlife on Broadway, with live music pouring out from honky-tonk bars.
Johnny Cash Museum:
Dive into the life and career of the Man in Black at this fascinating museum.
The Gulch:
Trendy neighborhood with great restaurants, shops, and murals for photo ops.
Centennial Park:
Relax in this urban park, home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens:
Explore beautiful gardens, art exhibitions, and historic architecture.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere:
Spend a day with the animals in this well-maintained zoo.
Frist Art Museum:
Appreciate a ... Read MORE...
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
Explore the history of country music and see artifacts from legendary artists.
Ryman Auditorium:
Attend a live performance at this iconic venue, known as the "Mother Church of Country Music."
Grand Ole Opry:
Catch a show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, a must for any country music fan.
Broadway Honky Tonk Row:
Experience the vibrant nightlife on Broadway, with live music pouring out from honky-tonk bars.
Johnny Cash Museum:
Dive into the life and career of the Man in Black at this fascinating museum.
The Gulch:
Trendy neighborhood with great restaurants, shops, and murals for photo ops.
Centennial Park:
Relax in this urban park, home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens:
Explore beautiful gardens, art exhibitions, and historic architecture.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere:
Spend a day with the animals in this well-maintained zoo.
Frist Art Museum:
Appreciate a ... Read MORE...
Discover YOUR Roots: Nashville Ancestry
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Nashville, Tennessee, USA
We currently have information about 156 ancestors who were born or died in Nashville.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)
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