The Nashville Parthenon

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Nashville, TN for two holiday craft shows. It was early December and as it was throughout most of the South this winter, the weather was absolutely beautiful. Maybe it's the Ohio girl in me talking, but I can't remember the last time I was able to go outside without a coat, long sleeves, or hat in December and not freeze. I had one completely free day to go about Nashville so I decided to visit a place I had passed by many times in previous visits: The Parthenon.

To be completely honest, when I went to Nashville for the first time in 2014, the Parthenon seemed to be a complete anomaly. And because of it's sheer uniqueness, it always intrigued me.

My trip starts at the parking lot across the lake in front of the real spectacle. The small lake was filled with ducks and lined with trees, still with the remnants of red, green, and yellow autumn leaves. As we walked around, we passed by strollers, dog-walkers, joggers, runners out enjoying the pristine weather. And of course there were the pigeons looking for food. ​

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As we circle around this lake, we can start to see more and more of the main attraction. 

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To say the building is impressive is an extreme understatement. The details are what impressed me most as well as how the structure has held up since being built in 1897. From the outside, my favorite details wrapped around the top of the building and the small gargoyle statues at each corner. 

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 Standing outside is awing to say the least, but it only gets more incredible on the inside. Go down into the lower half of the building and you can read about the history of the building and study artifacts on display. This then leads into a nice art museum with a variety of pieces, mediums, and themes. 

But that's not all. Also inside the building is a re-creation of the Athena Parthenos statue, created by Alan LeQuire in 1990. As you step into the room with the highly anticipated statue, it's all a little hard to believe. The statue nearly touches the ceiling and is absolutely monumental. So monumental, that it's extremely difficult to get a picture of the whole thing.

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The details are just as intriguing as the main feature. 

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Then from the statue, you can move down the hall, past more gargoyle statues, and into what is architecturally one of the entrances (but is not open to enter or exit from). 

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At the end of the day, I was far more impressed with the experience than I thought was possible. Next time you're in Nashville, make sure to add it to your list. 

Note: All images copyright Melissa Sweeney DBA Melissa Sweeney Photography. Copying, downloading, or using images in any capacity is not permitted. Please contact me if you would like more information about any photos or to purchase prints.