Jefferson Street (Nashville) facts for kids

Jefferson Street is a famous street in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. It became a very important place for the city's African-American community. Three special universities for Black students are located nearby: Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Tennessee State University.

From the 1940s to the 1960s, many famous rock and roll and rhythm and blues musicians played here. It was also a key spot for planning the Nashville sit-ins during the 1960s. However, when Interstate 40 was built across the street in 1968, it caused the area to face tough economic times. Since 2013, the Jefferson Street Sound Museum has been working to share the amazing music history of the 1940s through 1960s.

The Story of Jefferson Street

Early Days and Name

Long ago, Jefferson Street was just a simple path. It stretched from a large farm in the west to the Cumberland River in the east. Later, it was made better for wagons and horses to use. The street was named to honor Thomas Jefferson, who was a U.S. President.

A Hub for Education

During the American Civil War, a Union Army camp called Fort Gilliam was located on the street. Many runaway slaves found safety in this area. After the war, Fisk University was started here. The main building of Fisk, called Jubilee Hall, was built in 1872 on the site of the old fort.

Later, Tennessee State University was built nearby. By the 1930s, Meharry Medical College also moved close to Fisk University. This meant that Jefferson Street was surrounded by three important universities for Black students.

A Lively Community Grows

By the 1920s and 1930s, Jefferson Street became a popular place for the Black middle class to live. Many churches were built here, like Mount Zion Baptist Church and Pleasant Green Baptist Missionary Church. These churches became important centers for the community.

The Golden Age of Music

From the 1940s to the 1960s, Jefferson Street was a major center for music. Its clubs and venues were famous for rock and roll and rhythm and blues music. Many legendary artists played here, including Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Otis Redding, and Billy Cox. They performed in popular clubs like the Del Morocco and Club Baron.

A Center for Change

During the Civil Rights Movement, Jefferson Street played a big role. Even though protests like the Nashville sit-ins happened in other parts of Nashville, activists planned their actions on Jefferson Street. Business owners and residents on the street strongly supported these efforts to fight for equal rights.

Challenges and Rebuilding

In the late 1960s, a major highway called Interstate 40 was built right across Jefferson Street. This highway cut through the Black community and caused many economic problems for the area. Originally, the highway was planned to go near Vanderbilt University, which was a whites-only school at the time. But city officials changed the plan, leading to many African-American residents having to move away.

By the 2000s, people living in the Jefferson Street community began working to make the area strong again. In 2017, it was decided that the amazing music history of Jefferson Street would be featured in the National Museum of African American Music. This museum opened in 2019 and helps share the story of this important street.