Second Avenue Commercial District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Second Avenue Commercial District
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A block of the district in 2010.
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| Location | Nashville, Tennessee, US |
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| NRHP reference No. | 72001237 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
The Second Avenue Commercial District is a special area in Nashville, Tennessee. It is known for its old buildings. This historic district includes Second Avenue North, between Brandon Street and Broadway. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 2, 1972. This means it is a place important to the history of the United States.
History of Second Avenue
The buildings in this district were built a long time ago. Most were constructed in the 1870s and 1880s. Second Avenue was not always called that. It was first known as Market Street. This name made sense because it connected Nashville's busy industrial and business areas. In 1903, its name was changed to Second Avenue.
The Second Avenue Historic Preservation Overlay District is another important name for this area. Local government created it in March 1997. It was set up by the Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission (MHZC). This group helps protect old buildings. If someone wants to change the outside of a building in this district, they need approval from the MHZC. This helps keep the historic look of the area.
Challenges and Changes
Over the years, the district has faced some tough times. In 1985, a fire caused a lot of damage. Three buildings in the district were so badly hurt that they had to be torn down. Luckily, the other buildings stayed strong.
More recently, in 2020, an event caused damage to many buildings. This happened on the 160 block of Second Avenue North. The area is mostly a business district. It has many shops, offices, restaurants, and music venues called honky-tonks.
Building Styles and Design
The buildings in the Second Avenue Commercial District are famous for their unique looks. Many have special decorative tops called cornices. They also show off amazing brickwork. Most buildings are three or four stories tall.
Many buildings here are in the Victorian Italianate style. This means they have features like tall windows and decorative details. A few buildings are in the Commercial Style. This style is simpler and focuses on practical use. Many of these buildings also have great views of the Cumberland River.
One book from 1987 described the district. It called the area "one of the most outstanding collections" of certain types of storefronts. These storefronts are made from cast-iron and masonry. Cast-iron is a strong metal. Masonry means building with bricks or stones. This shows how special the architecture in this district truly is.
