You’ve probably heard a lot about Nashville these days – in terms of hipness and real estate and who lives here now. Still, there are some fascinating facts about Music City that could challenge even a few natives. For a quick and fun quiz see how many of these fun Nashville facts you already know.
- Banks and insurance companies built this city – Contrary to popular belief, Nashville was not built on country music alone. Though The Grand Ole Opry helped kickstart Nashville’s entertainment industry, banks and insurance companies were some of the first businesses in the area.
- “Athens of the South” – Nashville’s nickname is for two different reasons: the exact replica of the Parthenon that sits in Centennial Park and because the city was home to the first public education system in the South. It’s also home to one of the country’s oldest universities, Vanderbilt.
- Athena Parthenos – Inside the parthenon is a 42-foot statue of the Greek goddess. She is the largest indoor statue in the western hemisphere!
- Batman Building – Most residents can quickly find the “Batman Building” without prompting- it does get its nickname from the design resembling the superhero’s mask after all. But not everyone knows this building is the tallest skyscraper not just in Nashville, but in all of Tennessee.
- Little Kurdistan – Strangely enough, Nashville has the largest Kurdish community in North America. Kurds began resettling in the area around the late 1970s and have been coming in waves since.
- Grand Ole Opry – This on-air music radio show has been broadcasting live every week since 1925. It’s the longest running live music show on the radio. (Bonus fact- the original name for the show was the WSM Barn Dance).
- Elvis – There’s a reason the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum has the King’s gold cadillac: Elvis recorded over 200 songs at RCA’s historic Studio B on Music Row. Rumor also says that when Elvis was recording a Christmas album there he had trouble getting into the spirit. To help him, someone threw up a strand of Christmas lights and never removed them.
- Country Music Hall of Fame – Speaking of the Country Music Hall of Fame, have you noticed yet that the building was designed so the windows look like piano keys?
- Ryman Auditorium was originally a tabernacle – The original purpose for the building was to provide a large enough space for indoor revivals. And here are other tidbits you might not have known about the Mother Church.
- Hot chicken origin is part myth now – Hot chicken has become Nashville’s trademark dish to eat, gaining attention from all over the country. Funny thing is, no one actually knows exactly where it started….but there is a fantastic myth that you can read here.
Want to know more about houses in the Nashville area? Call DeSelms Real Estate today at 615.550.5565 and let one of our award winning agents help you!