At the heart of Nashville's Centennial Park lies this incredible, full-sized replica of Ancient Greece's famous temple that still stands atop the Acropolis in Athens today. Home to an art museum and a 13-metre tall statue of Greek goddess Athena, it is an unexpected yet captivating sight.
Nashville has long been known as the “Athens of the South”, reinforced in 1897 with Tennessee's Centennial Exposition which saw many ancient buildings being remodelled across the state. The focal point of this was the Greek Parthenon, the world's only exact reproduction, complete with replicas of the Parthenon Marbles made from direct casts taken from the British Museum and Athens's Acropolis Museum. Though originally intended as a temporary structure for the exposition, a wave of popular support saved the Parthenon and it endures to this day.
Made from timber, plaster and brick in its original form, it was rebuilt in the 1920s and 30s out of concrete. Today, it is home to the city's art museum, where you can admire dozens of paintings from 19th- and 20th-century American artists, as well as the towering Doric columns and the statue of Athena which is one of the biggest indoor sculptures in the Western world.
During the summer months, you can enjoy a theatre production here. Show times will be advertised in the local press. If you take the Nashville Nights and Lights Tour, this is one of the highlights, where might even see a toga party take place.
The Parthenon stands in Centennial Park, where you can also spend some time feeding the ducks on the lake, exploring the picturesque gardens as well as seeing the decommissioned sabre jet aeroplane and locomotive which you will find on display. Markets and fairs can frequently be found on the lawns across the park too.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday, the Parthenon is situated in Centennial Park, roughly three kilometres to the west of downtown Nashville. Set aside two hours to fully explore the site. If you're driving, you can park here for free. City buses also stop conveniently close by.
