The city of Nashville really is an incredible historical facet of the nation to study. It’s not only a city that was founded on Christmas Eve (what a celebratory city!), the home of one of the oldest capitol buildings in the United States and one of the fastest growing towns out there nowadays, but it’s a city that’s proud of where it came from and where it is going. Check out these fifteen photos of Nashville throughout the 20th century and get to know the city as it once was.
- It’s not hard to figure out whether or not Tennessee is a hunting town or not…
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook Folks have been indulging in the sport for ages! Can you imagine going along on the Hillsboro Hounds Fox Hunt? This event took place in 1936.
- Do you recognize Lower Broad?
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook This photo is from the late 1970s, a bit closer to the millennium, but we can’t get over how much Broadway has changed.
- It’s weird, isn’t it, to see the capitol building standing all alone on Capitol Hill.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook It’s now surrounded by office buildings and skyscrapers, though this shot was taken during the capitol building renovation in the mid 1950s.
- Just a quiet, normal, everyday experience in Nashville.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook This undated photo gives us a solid blast from the past, especially with the old cars and outdated streetlights.
- The War Memorial building, circa 1960.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook Now you’ll find festivals and community events held in the War Memorial Plaza, a far cry from the parking lot it once was.
- An aerial photo of the city always exemplifies the growth of a town.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook This photo was taken in 1935, a gorgeous overhead shot of the city we know and love so well.
- Wait a second…
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook …this isn’t quite a photograph, but it is fascinating to look at a city map drawn out in 1888.
- The Parthenon was built for the city’s centennial celebration in 1879, and it’s remained a magnificent part of the city ever since.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook Centennial Park has always been expansive and gorgeous, even all the way back in 1935.
- Check out the Davidson County courthouse back in 1920.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook What a beautiful place to report for jury duty.
- Check out this aerial view of East Nashville, just above Main Street and Woodland Street.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook Who would’ve thought that this side of the city would be overrun by hipsters in just a few short years?
- The west side of Capitol Hill looked a lot different back in the mid-century.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook It’s incredible to see just out the city has built itself up in the last seventy years.
- The Shelby Street Bridge was just as gorgeous and beautiful back in 1908, wasn’t it?
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook A stunning monument in the heart of downtown, most folks cross it for work every day, from the east side of the city to downtown.
- Can you tell what part of town this 1963 photograph covers…?
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook Its Green Hills! Sans the ridiculous traffic at all hours of the day, of course.
- This photo is of the old City Hospital, taken in 1894.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook They just don’t make hospitals like this anymore, do they?
- This photo was taken looking north over the Shelby Avenue Bridge.
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook It’s undated, but we do appreciate the spare skyline at the edge of the Cumberland River.
You can explore the city the way it exists nowadays with a visit to this classic diner – it’s the perfect way to experience the heart of a town. Through its food!
Metro Nashville Archives - Facebook
Folks have been indulging in the sport for ages! Can you imagine going along on the Hillsboro Hounds Fox Hunt? This event took place in 1936.
This photo is from the late 1970s, a bit closer to the millennium, but we can’t get over how much Broadway has changed.
It’s now surrounded by office buildings and skyscrapers, though this shot was taken during the capitol building renovation in the mid 1950s.
This undated photo gives us a solid blast from the past, especially with the old cars and outdated streetlights.
Now you’ll find festivals and community events held in the War Memorial Plaza, a far cry from the parking lot it once was.
This photo was taken in 1935, a gorgeous overhead shot of the city we know and love so well.
…this isn’t quite a photograph, but it is fascinating to look at a city map drawn out in 1888.
Centennial Park has always been expansive and gorgeous, even all the way back in 1935.
What a beautiful place to report for jury duty.
Who would’ve thought that this side of the city would be overrun by hipsters in just a few short years?
It’s incredible to see just out the city has built itself up in the last seventy years.
A stunning monument in the heart of downtown, most folks cross it for work every day, from the east side of the city to downtown.
Its Green Hills! Sans the ridiculous traffic at all hours of the day, of course.
They just don’t make hospitals like this anymore, do they?
It’s undated, but we do appreciate the spare skyline at the edge of the Cumberland River.
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