NASHVILLE, TN - Centennial Park's Parthenon is a full-scale replica of its counterpart in Athens and stands as the oldest and most complete temple dedicated to Athena today. Furthermore, it houses one of the world's tallest indoor sculptures - a 42-foot-tall statue depicting Athena herself!
A Trip to The Parthenon, Nashville
William Crawford Smith designed this pavilion as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, which marked 100 years since Tennessee became a state. It ran for six months and drew more than 2 million visitors - although originally intended as temporary, it remained standing due to costs associated with dismantling and its popularity among locals and visitors.
It quickly became a landmark in Nashville and is now an immensely popular tourist attraction. Now open to the public as a museum, the Parthenon houses paintings, sculptures, and other forms of artwork, which change regularly within its main chamber of exhibits. If your older children or teens love art, this would be an incredible place to visit!
If you are traveling with children, I advise visiting at an off-time such as midweek or early in the morning when crowds are not as dense. Otherwise, it can be hard to enjoy all that is on display when constantly looking over other people's shoulders or trying to maneuver your way through crowds of visitors.
