Capitols

Getty Images/Moment Open


This 1845–59 Greek Revival building was built from local limestone and marble by slaves and prison inmates working alongside European artisans. Around the back, steep stairs lead down to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, whose outdoor walls are covered with historical facts about Tennessee's history, and the wonderful daily Farmers Market.

Free tours leave from the Information Desk on the 1st floor of the Capitol every hour on the hour between 9am and 3pm (except 12pm) on weekdays.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. 5th Ave of the Arts

0.23 MILES

Home to several visual art galleries, Nashville’s premier art district is just a quick walk up from the honky-tonks on Broadway. This historic block is…

2. Nashville Public Library – Downtown

0.27 MILES

For an excellent overview of the Civil Rights movement in Nashville, check out the Civil Rights Collection, a permanent exhibit in the 2nd-floor galleries…

3. Bicentennial Capitol Mall

0.4 MILES

Downtown Nashville's 19-acre green lung swoops grandly north from the Tennessee State Capitol, giving unparalleled (and much televised) views of its white…

5. Frist Art Museum

0.53 MILES

A top-notch post office turned art museum and complex, hosting traveling exhibitions of everything from American folk art to Picasso, and as off-the-wall…

6. Tennessee State Museum

0.57 MILES

This engaging museum, which moved into spiffy new digs in 2018, offers a worthy, balanced look at the state's past, with Native American handicrafts,…

7. Johnny Cash Museum & Store

0.59 MILES

Nashville's museum dedicated to 'The Man in Black' is smallish but houses the most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in…

8. Riverfront Park

0.6 MILES

This narrow park sits between downtown and the Cumberland River. Take your pooch for a romp in the dog park, have a picnic as you watch the barges from…