Tennessee Things to Do Tips by OlenaKyiv Top 5 Page for this destination

Nashville - The Parthenon

The Parthenon is possibly one of large attractions of Nashville located in Centennial Park in downtown. This is the only full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon in existence with 42-foot statue of Athena. The lower level of the Parthenon is used as an art gallery.

The Parthenon is open
Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 - 4:30;
also on Sunday, 12:30 - 4:30 during June, July and August.

Admission:
Adults - $5.00; Children 4-17 - $2.50 (under 4 free); Seniors 62+ - $2.50.

Address: Centennial Park, 2600 West End Ave, Nashville

Phone: (615) 862-8431

Glenmore Victorian Mansion

Glenmore was built between 1868 and 1869. Likewise many houses of the Victorian period it has French influences.

Only two families have owned and lived in Glenmore: the Branners and Jarnagins. Both are well-known in Jefferson County. Also, both families have connections to almost every pioneer family in the surrounding region. John Roper Branner, who built the house, was the grandson of Michael and Christina Branner, who came from Virginia in 1799.

From 1868-1869, John Roper Branner built his dream house, which he called "The Oaks." Sadly, John Roper Branner never got to live in the house. He died shortly before it was completed. John's widow, Deborah (ne? Massengill), had to oversee completion of the house and move her children there. Afterward, John's brother, Joseph, ran the Branner Institute for Young Ladies in the house.
In 1882, the Branners sold their home to Milton Preston Jarnagin, Sr. Milton changed the name of the house to "Glenmore," the name of his first son, who died as a baby.
In February, 1970, the 101-year-old house and surrounding property were saved from the auction block and developer's bulldozer when the heirs of Milton Preston Jarnagin, Sr., presented the site to the Jefferson County Chapter of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA)
In January, 2000, Glenmore suffered a terrible tragedy. Thieves broke into the house and stole several pieces of furniture and furnishings. Some were priceless, unique antiques. Although some of the items were recovered, the thieves vandalized them all, leaving a hideous scar on Glenmore.

Glenmore shows it in the curving, mansard-type roofs and dormer windows. An interesting legend surrounds Glenmore's windows. Some believe the number counted on the outside does not equal the number counted from inside the house.

Sat. & Sun. 1:00 - 5:00 pm
May 1 - October 31 (except holidays)

More information you can find on the site below

Address: 1280 North Chucky Pike, Jefferson City, TN 37760

Directions: From I-40, take Exit 417. Go north on TN-92 to Jefferson City. At the intersection of Hwy. 92 and US Hwy. 11-E, go east to Chucky Pike. Turn left onto Chucky Pike. Go approximately 0.9 mile to the entrance to Glenmore, which is on the right.

Great Smoky Mountains Park

The idea to build the Park appeared from Mrs. Willis P.Devisin 1923. After long debates where to start the Park and where to get finance for it, the project started. Congress established the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 15, 1934, and turned its stewardship to the National Park Service. Land acquisition continued and on September 2, 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially dedicated the park.

Great Smoky Mountains is enjoying views, hiking, fishing, horse riding, bicycling, camping, picnics, lodging in nice cabins. Just choose what you like or try all.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove is one of the most popular places of Smoky Mountains. It is 11-mile one-way loop road which lies in the forest and where located more than 100 year-old houses and churches.

The history of this place traces from ancient times when Cherokees came to hunt in the valley. In 1821 Joshua Jobe and his family settled down here. Among other early families were Olivers, Tiptons, Shieldses, and Gregorys. They set clearing the land, building log homes, barns, corncribs, smoke-houses. Some buildings are presented in the Cades Cove like they were during days of the creation. Cades Cove population reached 685 (132 families) in 1850. Lots of new families moved in. They built churches; they did sometimes social events out of work (corn husking, beanstringings, molasses making), they knew everything about neighbors’ families and church members.

In 1927 the first large track was bought and gave to the government for the Park creation. Many of the farmers in the Cove didn’t resist the state’s efforts to buy their land. But some did. One of the strongest resisters was John W. Oliver, a great grand-son of one of the earliest settlers. He fought the state in the court for more than 6 years. His case went to Tennessee Supreme Court three times before he finally lost. He moved his household goods and farm machinery from the Cove on a bleak December day in 1937.
Not everyone left the Cove. They stayed in Cove till they died. But their descendents couldn’t continue the life there.

The last school in Cove closed in 1944.
The post office closed in 1947.

Nashville - Opryland Hotel

Simply looking from outside that spreads itself on several acres of land, hotel's inside is a year-round climate controlled atriums with numerous palm trees, exotic plants, waterfalls, creek, and birds. It is a small town within walls with a year-round summer not very humid and not very cold with its restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and exhibition spaces. The hotel is aways filled with people, as a rule, as I can judge, with those that came for some type of meeting or conference.

Address: 2800 Opryland Drive

Phone: (615) 889-1000

Website: http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordopryland/

Nashville - Bellsouth building

Next unordinary attraction of Nashville along with its Parthenon is Bellsouth building, or the Batman Building, outstands among other skyscrappers of Nashville and turns this city into a modern one. The building is 33 stores tall, built in 1991-1994 by design of Earl Swensson Associates.

This building was intended to look like a telephone at the top. And the decorative bridge that supports the company’s logo does in some way resemble the receiver of a telephone in its cradle. But the addition of a pair of illuminated spires ruins the image creating an image turning it into Batman.

Address: 333 Commerce Street

Directions: You may have a good view of the building from Fort Nashborough.

Nashville - Fort Nashborough

Log fort on the bank of Cumberland River located near the place where in 1779 first settlers of Nashville built wood log fort. The present fort is not an original, it is the re-creation built in 1962 and in size is 4 times smaller than original.

The entrance is free and tours are self guided, you will find some plaques with information. Don't worry there are not so many of them, so you won't get tired from reading.

The fort looks real and gives the chance to uderstand how people lived in the end of 18th century.

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9 am-5 pm.

Address: 170 1st Ave North

Directions: Riverfront Park right near the Cumberland River.

Phone: (615) 862-8400

Website: http://www.wnfoundersmuseum.org/ftnash.htm

Tennessee State Capitol

The historic Tennessee State Capitol, designed by William Strickland, stands today much as it did when completed in 1859. Several areas have been restored to their 19th century appearance.

Cost: Free

Hours: Monday-Firday 9 am - 4 pm. Closed all major holidays.

Address: Charlotte Ave, between 6th and 7th streets

Phone: (615) 741-2692

Nashville - Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

19 acre park located down a hill from State Capitol has many things to see and learn. Amphitheatre will amaze with its beautiful landscape, Pathway of History will tell about Tennessee's history, World War II Memorial will remind about historical tragedy, The Court of 3 Stars will entertain with music of 95 bells, the Walkway of Counties will tell more about counties of Tennessee. All this in one place. Enjoy the walk with entertaining.

Address: 600 James Robertson Parkway

Phone: 615-741-5280

Website: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/Bicentennial/index.shtml

Cades Cove - John Oliver Place

Loft (upstairs) is the place where kids slept during a night, as a rule boys, while girls slept downstairs in the room with their parents.