The Parthenon in the USA?!?!

My second stop on this 10-day road trip adventure was beautiful Nashville, Tennessee. One of my goals was to visit the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. I selected a hotel next to this location for easy access. When checking in to the hotel, I asked about the cathedral’s location. The receptionist gave me directions and then proudly said, “Don’t forget to visit the Parthenon!” I was tired from driving and thought maybe I didn’t hear her correctly. But sure enough, she handed me a map that showed the Parthenon located one mile from the hotel. After a good night’s sleep, I headed to the Parthenon the next morning.

I walked with great wonder in 28-degree weather. What is this going to look like? Before long, there it was … in all its splendor.

I couldn’t believe that this structure, of all places, was found in the middle of Tennessee! I walked around the building to its entrance, purchased a senior-discount ticket (I love the benefits of being a senior…), and then began learning about the history of this amazing building.

The Parthenon is in Centennial Park just west of downtown Nashville. This structure is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Today, the Parthenon functions as an art museum. It was originally built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The director of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition suggested the reproduction of the Parthenon as a centerpiece for the centennial celebration. The original was built of plaster, wood, and brick. It was never intended to be a permanent fixture; however, it was very popular with both locals and visitors. In 1920, the renovations began to ensure permanence of the structure. The exterior was completed in 1925. The interior was completed in 1931.

The re-creation of the Athena Parthenos statue is the highlight of the Parthenon in Nashville. This statue is a 42-foot replica of what originally stood in the Parthenon in Greece. One of the plaques near the statue indicated that the angel in the hand of Athena, that you can see in the picture, is six foot tall.

It was interesting to learn about the history of Athena. She was the goddess of war and daughter of Zeus. According to Greek mythology, Athena was produced without a mother and emerged full-grown from her father’s forehead. Very odd, yet interesting!

Here are more pictures of the inside of the Parthenon in Nashville.

After exploring the Parthenon in Nashville, I headed to the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

This beautiful structure was built between 1910 and 1914. It was dedicated in July 1914 and has since undergone three major renovations.

Nashville is a beautiful city, and I knew I wanted to see the downtown area. It was a 45-minute walk from my hotel to downtown. It felt good to walk in the cold brisk air. Before long, I saw the famous “Honkey Tonk” signs and could hear the music from a variety of venues.

It was 1pm when I arrived in downtown Nashville. It was hopping with activity, but I am sure it gets livelier when the sun goes down. After a nice lunch at a local restaurant, I headed back to my hotel.

The next day I was off to another state and a new discovery that surprised even my friends who have lived in that state for many years. Stay tuned… the adventure continues…

It is a new year – Happy 2024 to each of you! Let’s make this a GREAT year with a focus on leaning in to all that God has for us. God bless us all! Let me know in the comments below if you have ever visited Nashville and if so, what was your favorite things to do. Happy New Year!