DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE- DAVIDSON CO.

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TENNESSEE- DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, TN

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Your help is needed to make this site better for all the people inside and outside of Davidson County, Tennessee. We are particularly interested in documenting the history of Davidson County. If you have useable information we are anxious to publish it on this site or will provide a link if you have it already posted on the net. Many thanks.

HISTORY of DOWNTOWN AREA

HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS

Began around this point April 2, 1781, between Cherokee Indians and settlers. Loosed by Mrs Jakes Robertson dogs from the fort, attacked this Indians allowing the settlers to escape to the fort. Many were killed including Captain Jakes Leiper.

BATTLE OF THE BLUFFS

Nashville Centennial Historic Sign

(1780 - 1880) The Centennial Exposition on this site in 1880 from April 23 through May 30, marked a century of progress since the founding of Nashville. There were parades, oratory, music, historical, art and commercial exhibits, theatrical performances, and "the grandest display of fireworks ever seen in Nashville."

NASHVILLE CENTENNIAL

First hostelry on this spot was established by Major William T Lewis, 1796. It became Winn's Inn in 1906, the Nashville Inn a few years later. Among its many distinguished guests were the three sons of Duke of Orleans. Andrew Johnson, then governor, was living here when the inn was destroyed by fire in 1858.

NASHVILLE INN

On October 7, 1915, Dr George Curtis, Albert F Ganler, Judge M Y Hughes, Dr George R Mayfield, Dixon Merritt, and A C Webb met at Faucon's Restaurant, 410 Union Street, approximately 50 feet east of here to found the Tennessee Ornithological Society. T.O.S. was chartered by the state for the purpose of studying Tennessee birds. A journal, "The Migrest," publishes accurate records of birds across the state. "The Birds of the Nashville Area" has local records. T.O.S. is the states oldest conservation group in continuing existence.

TENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Site of Electric Street Railway Transfer station 1902 - 1940. Electric streetcar service began formally on April 30, 1889 replacing mule-drawn streetcars which had served the city since 1866. Final run for electric streetcars was February 1, 1941 on Radnor line. Operation of bus system began August 4, 1940 on Hillsboro-Sunset line.

TRANSFER STATION SITE

On this site was the regular meeting place of the Frank Cheatham Bivouac. United Confederate Veterans. It was here on September 10, 1894, Caroline Meriwether Goodlett called together a group of women and organized the National Daughters of the Confederacy. A year later the name was changed to the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 38th state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U S Constitution, thereby giving all American women the right to vote. After weeks of intense lobbying by national leaders, Tennessee passed the measure by one vote. The headquarters for both suffragists wearing yellow roses and anti-suffragists, wearing red roses, were in the Hermitage Hotel.

VOTES FOR WOMEN

Music publishing in Nashville began in 1824 when "The Western Harmony" was published by Allen D Carden and Samuel J Rogers. A book of hymns and instruction for singing, it was printed by Carey A Harris on the press of his newspaper, the Nashville Republican, on College Street (now Third Avenue) in this vicinity.

WESTERN HARMONY

Jacques Timothe De Montbran, French Canadian fur trader and later lieutenant governor of the Illinois Country, visited this area as early as 1769. On at least one occasion he took refuge in the cave 0.9 mile East when attacked by Indians. He settled in Nashville in 1790, living there until his death in 1826.

DEMONBREUN'S CAVE

PEOPLE of DOWNTOWN AREA

City of Nashville named for Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash
City incorporated in 1806
Is known as a publishing and financial center

FRANCIS NASH

Born in Delaware, 1718
Distinguished himself in early life in Virginia
Became an iron manufacturer, Surveyor of Pittsylvania County and Indian agent for the Virginia Colony.
Fought in Revolutionary War.

Led settlers west, by land and river, and settled in Nashville area
They took an overland route of nearly 500 miles, and the river for almost 1000 miles
Founder of Donelson’s Station on Stones River
Died in Kentucky 1786

JOHN DONELSON

This marker is erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission to honor the memory of these women whose foresight, diligence, generosity and sense of public responsibility assured that all of Capitol Hill was retained for the people of Tennessee as a beautiful and harmonious setting for state buildings working through an organization of their creation, The Tennessee Capitol Association organized in 1910. They provided the funds which saved the area from commercial encroachment until the entire area came into state possession many years later.

MRS JOHN HILL EAKIN - MRS ROBERT F WEAKLEY

1763 - 1819. Became first Postmaster of Nashville 1796 - 1797. Born in Virginia. Came to Nashville in 1782. Became a noted Defender against the Indians at old Fort Nashboro and the frontier settlements. Captain of a spy company of the Davidson County Regiment. Participated in the Nickajack Expedition which ended Indian atrocities on the Cumberland. As captain of the spies, reporting only to General Jackson. He distinguished himself in every battle of Jackson's Creek Campaign in 1814. He performed alone a mission of great danger as Jackson's special envoy to the Spanish Governor of Pensacola, which resulted in the capture of Pensacola and the cession of Florida to the United States. He led his company during the Seminole War of 1817 - 1818. Buried at Columbia, Tennessee.

CAPTAIN JOHN GORDON

The house which stood about 100 feet west was built in 1815 by Felix Grundy. James K Polk bought it while President in 1847. He came home to it on expiration of his term of office and died here, June 15, 1849. His widow occupied it until her death in 1891. It was later owned by Jacob McGavock Dickinson, Secretary of War, 1908 - 1912, and a descendant of Grundy.

JAMES K POLK

"Gray-eyed Man of Destiny". Born May 8, 1824. Walker moved to this site from 6th Avenue N in 1840. In early life he was doctor, lawyer and a journalist. He invaded Mexico in 1853 with 46 men and proclaimed himself President, Republic of Lower California. Led force into Nicaragua in 1855; was elected its President in 1856. In attempt to wage war on Honduras was captured and executed September 12, 1860.

WILLIAM WALKER

(1794 - 1880) Brick manufacturer and builder, who at the age of 15 fought under General Jackson in the Creek campaigns and at the Battle of New Orleans, left at his death in 1880, this site and $100,000 as an endowment for a school later called Watkins Institute. A pioneer school for adult education, it has been in continuous operation since 1885. Watkins Institute now located on Powell Place.

SAMUEL WATKINS

FIREWORKS JULY 4, 1999... Visited

Our Fourth of July celebration begins mid- morning with a trip to Metro Center for a bicycle ride. Paul rides along the river to Riverfront Park where preparation is being made for the fireworks bonanza scheduled for 9:00 PM this night. The fireworks are being placed along the river in front of the new Titan's Football Stadium.

Riverfront Park is transformed for the gala event, and the police block off the streets to allow only pedestrian traffic.

Shelby Street Bridge is being renovated and will serve foot traffic only, linking the stadium with downtown Nashville when completed.

The picturesque skyline of Nashville surrounds and hovers over Riverfront Park.

I come home about noon, and we venture forth again to lay out on the riverbank (with about 100,000 other folks) to watch the pyrotechnic display.

Then comes the grand finale with all its sound and fury... and finally an appreciative applause by the spectators... and we all go back to our homes with pleasing visions and memories of another great July 4th.

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FIREWORKS JULY 4, 2000... Re-Visited

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FIREWORKS JULY 4, 2002... Re-Visited... again

IMAGES From Nostalgiaville
TENNESSEE- (DOWNTOWN GREENWAY)- DAVIDSON COUNTY- NASHVILLE, TN-
6-17-06

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DOWNTOWN GREENWAY

The Downtown Greenway, the "Miracle Mile", is the link between East and West... the Eastern side of the Cumberland River with the fantastic Shelby Bottoms Greenway System and the Western side with an equally impressive Riverfront Greenway Complex. Many interesting views of the inner city beg your presence on your trusty old bicycle.

1 (MILE 0.0)

The Downtown Greenway starts at the foot of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge on the East side of the Cumberland River near the Adelphia Stadium.

The Nashville skyline stands tall to our right before we make a rather steep climb toward the top of the bridge

2 (MILE 0.3)

A "Sign of the Times" banner stares down at us as we struggle on the up-side of the bridge... "Save a Horse... Drive a Chevy"

A pause for breath... and a pause for pictures is in order at the top of the bridge. Looking down river from the bridge

Looking up river from the bridge

Future home of Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium

Looking toward East Bank of Cumberland River

The Adelphia Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans Football Team

Looking toward West Bank of Cumberland River

3 (MILE 0.4)

Western end of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge

Hilton Hotel

4 (MILE 0.6)

After a little over one-half mile, park the bicycle and take a look around. The Gaylord Entertainment Center (Nashville Coliseum) is "in your face", and its elevated position allows a nice panoramic view of Nashville