Parthenon (Nashville) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Parthenon
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The Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial Park is a full-scale copy of the original Parthenon in Athens.
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 Location in Nashville
Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
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| Built | 1897 (original structure) 1925–1931 (permanent version) |
| Architect | William Crawford Smith |
| Architectural style | Classical |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001236 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
The Parthenon in Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee, is a full-size copy of the famous Parthenon building in Athens, Greece. It was designed by architect William Crawford Smith. This amazing structure was first built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition.
Today, the Nashville Parthenon is an art museum. It is the main attraction in Centennial Park, a large public park near downtown Nashville. Inside, you'll find a huge statue of Athena Parthenos. This statue, created by Alan LeQuire in 1990, is a copy of the one that stood in the original Parthenon in ancient Greece. The Nashville Parthenon is painted with colors that are believed to be like the original. It shows how amazing classical architecture can be. The museum also has plaster copies of the Parthenon Marbles. These are direct copies of the sculptures that decorated the original Parthenon in Athens, dating back to 438 BC. The real sculptures are now in the British Museum in London and the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
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History of the Nashville Parthenon
Nashville is often called the "Athens of the South." This nickname helped decide that the Parthenon would be the main building for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. Many buildings at the exposition were based on old designs. But the Parthenon was the only one that was an exact copy. It was also the only building the city decided to keep.
Major Eugene Castner Lewis was in charge of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. He suggested building a copy of the Parthenon in Nashville. This would be the centerpiece for Tennessee's 100th birthday celebration. Lewis was also a chief engineer for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad.
Building the Parthenon
The first Parthenon was made of plaster, wood, and brick. It was not meant to last forever. But it was very popular with both locals and visitors. Also, it would have cost a lot to tear it down. So, the city decided to leave it standing after the Exposition.
In 1895, George Julian Zolnay helped create models for the building's decorations. Over the next 20 years, weather damaged the structure. So, a project began in 1920 to rebuild it. The new Parthenon was made of concrete on the same foundations. The outside was finished in 1925, and the inside in 1931. Local architect Russell Hart oversaw this rebuilding.
Early Events and Pageants
Some of the most exciting events at the Parthenon were the Spring Pageants in 1913 and 1914. These were big theater shows. They had up to 500 performers and attracted people from other states. Train ticket prices were even lowered to encourage attendance. Nashville truly celebrated its "Athens of the South" nickname.
The 1913 show was called The Fire Regained. It was a play by Sidney Mttron Hirsch. It told a mythological story with lots of special effects. The 1914 show, "The Mystery at Thanatos," also had a mythological plot. It was shorter and people liked it even more. Both shows had amazing displays. These included chariot races, large dance numbers, thousands of live birds, and sets that shot flames. All of this happened with the Nashville Parthenon as the backdrop.
What You Can See Today
The Parthenon works as an art museum. On the lower level, you can see 63 paintings. These are by American artists from the 1800s and 1900s. James M. Cowan donated them between 1927 and 1929. Other gallery spaces hold special, temporary art shows.
The Athena Parthenos Statue
The main level has a copy of the Athena Parthenos statue. This copy was finished in 1990. It is a careful reconstruction of the original statue, which was lost a long time ago. The statue shows Athena wearing armor and a helmet. She holds a shield on her left arm. In her right hand, she holds a 6-foot-tall statue of Nike (Victory). The Athena statue itself is 42 feet (13 meters) tall! Since 2002, it has been covered with more than 8 pounds (3.6 kg) of gold leaf. A huge snake also rises between her and her shield.
Performances and Restoration
In the summer, local theater groups use the Parthenon as a stage. They perform classic Greek plays like Medea by Euripides and Antigone by Sophocles. These shows are usually free and happen on the steps of the Parthenon. Other plays, like Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses, have been performed inside.
In 2001, the Nashville Parthenon got a much-needed cleaning and repair on its outside. The outdoor lights were also updated. Now, the columns can be lit up with different colors than the rest of the building.
Gallery
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Statues
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The center of the statues
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A closer look at the Shield of Athena Parthenos
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Greek play, probably 1913 or 1914
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See also
In Spanish: Partenón (Nashville) para niños
