Schmap Nashville Historical Background

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Nashville - Historical Background
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According to archaeologists, the first residents of what is now known as Nashville were Mississippian Indians. This agricultural society left behind significant evidence of their existence, including some exquisitely painted pottery. The Mississippian Indians called this region their home from 1,000 to 1,400 CE and then mysteriously vanished. Historians and archaeologists are divided on the issue of their disappearance. Some believe the culture evolved into a nomadic society and simply moved to another region. Others believe they fell victim to a plague of some type or were massacred by another Indian tribe, such as the Cherokee or Chickasaw, who would later make this area their home.

Whatever the case, the disappearance of this indigenous farming community was strangely prophetic. The city of Nashville was destined for greatness, but only after an arduous journey of societal evolution. Agriculture would be king in early Nashville. The agricultural society would then be torn by war and Nashville would be destroyed. After rebuilding the city, the citizens would turn to heavy industry to survive. Eventually, industry would fail, and the new king in town would be country music. It's a very interesting story, and it's a story the people of Nashville have not forgotten. It is woven into their culture, their art and their lifestyle.

Of Forts and Fur Traders

The first European visitors to the area were French fur traders, who arrived around 1720. These traders prospered along the banks of the Cumberland River. The first English settlers ventured here in 1779. Led by resourceful pioneer James Robertson, they built a primitive fort and named it Nashborough after General Francis Nash, a hero in the United States Revolutionary War. (A reproduction of that first settlement can be seen at Fort Nashborough.) The new town was a part of the state of North Carolina and soon became a hotbed of activity. Some 60 families, led by John Donelson, moved southwest from the colonies and began farming the fertile soil of the Cumberland Plateau. In 1784, the town changed its name to Nashville, and in 1796 Nashville and the surrounding area broke away from North Carolina and declared statehood. Tennessee became the 16th state of the union, and Nashville was its capital.

A Young Nation is Divided

In 1860, there were rumors that the southern states were planning to secede from the United States. Southern plantation owners depended heavily on the slave labor. The northern states condemned slavery and demanded that the government abolish the practice. Tennessee, a border state, was reluctant to join the secessionist movement and voted to remain loyal to the Union. However, pressure from neighboring states, along with a strong desire to determine their own destiny, caused the citizens to reconsider. When the first shots of the war were fired at Charleston, South Carolina, the decision was made to join the Confederacy. In 1861, the Confederate States of America, or CSA, was formed, and elected Jefferson Davis as its president. The divisive war lasted four years and left an indelible mark on Nashville's history.

Fort Donelson was constructed on the banks of the Cumberland River in order to protect the city of Nashville from northern aggression. Fort Henry was erected further west on the Tennessee River in order to defend Middle Tennessee. The Union armies struck with surprising force, and the small band of Confederate soldiers was no match for the better-equipped, more experienced northern troops. Both forts fell in only three days. Confederate forces retreated, and the mayor of Nashville surrendered the city on February 25, 1862. The Union wasted no time in reclaiming the city and set about the task of building forts of its own. Fort Negley, the largest, was the center of military perations in the Western theatre. President Lincoln appointed Andrew Johnson as governor of Tennessee and charged him with reestablishing its citizens' loyalty to the Union. Most Tennesseans were reluctant to pledge loyalty, but were convinced by threats from Johnson that failure to pledge loyalty would result in losses of property and freedom.

The Union occupation wasn't a quiet one. Confederate troops routinely raided the city and attempted to regain control. On December 15, 1864, a final campaign was staged to recapture the city. The Battle of Nashville was fought for two days and resulted in victory for the Union army and the near devastation of the proud city. General Hood and his Confederate soldiers were forced to retreat, and the city of Nashville was decidedly in the hands of the Union army.

Governor Johnson was elected vice president in 1865 and left Tennessee for Washington, DC. After the assassination of President Lincoln, Johnson assumed the presidency and saw the war end on April 9, 1865. The business of reconstruction kept the citizens of Nashville busy for many years. As the Union armies returned to their homes, Nashville turned its attention towards reclaiming its Southern heritage and found support from its neighboring states. The United States was one nation again, but the wounds would take decades to heal, and the scars would last even longer.

New Beginnings

As the city of Nashville was rebuilt, the population grew once again. Riverboats and barges chugged up and down the Cumberland, opening up the city to trade. Industry developed, and the farming communities died away. The new source of commerce was manufacturing goods, not growing crops. By the beginning of World War II, the manufacturing industry was booming, and when the United States entered the war, the city retooled its plants to build military equipment and artillery. After the war, heavy industry saw a decline. Financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies took the lead in building the city's wealth. Today, Nashville depends on its service and tourism economies rather than on manufacturing.

The Music City is Born

In the 1930s, Nashville began playing a new song. Country music was a hybrid of European-rooted folk music and African American spirituals. Fiddler and songwriter Roy Acuff was the first real country music star and hosted the wildly popular live radio broadcast, Grand Ole Opry. Country music gained popularity throughout the country, and people everywhere tuned in to NBC radio to hear the latest tunes.

The 1950s were the real heyday of country music, though. Artists such as Hank Williams wrote songs about life, love and loss, and the message connected with listeners. The recording studios on famed Music Row were filled with aspiring singers and songwriters hoping to make their mark. By 1960 the city was earning a reputation as the center of the country, pop, and blues recording industries and became known as the Music City. Today, the early pioneers are remembered in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which also features exhibits on new country megastars such as Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, who found their success right here in Nashville.

Embracing the Future, Remembering the Past

Today, Nashville is a vibrant city. It is the home of Fortune 500 companies such as First Tennessee Bank and telecommunications giant BellSouth. It is also home to professional sports franchises like the National Football League's Tennessee Titans and the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators. Nashville's growing arts community has gained national recognition with the works of Norris Hall, and the city will always be the home of country music.

Despite all of its success, though, Nashville has not forgotten its roots. Throughout the city, you will find reminders of the past. Museums such as the Oscar Farris Agricultural Museum recall the city's primitive beginnings. The Hermitage, the onetime home of President Andrew Jackson, is a memorial to one of the nation's more controversial leaders. Meanwhile, Fort Negley serves as one of the few remaining reminders of the heinous battle that virtually destroyed the city during the United States Civil War.

Nashville is all grown up now - the small town has become a big city. Nevertheless, it has never lost that quiet Southern way. Things are done differently here. People still stop to say "good morning" and to enjoy a cup of coffee on a neighbor's front porch. A handshake is still a binding contract in most cases, and hospitality is a way of life.

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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The memories of Music City

222 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
United States
+1 615 416 2001
http://www.countrymusichalloff...

Discover the stories behind the music as you view over 3,000 stage costumes, original song manuscripts and musical instruments. Many of the personal items of music legends are on display including Elvis' solid gold Cadillac. Admission includes a visit to the historical RCA Studio B and the Music Row walking tour. Allow at least two hours for exhibits and the tour. Admission: $16.95 adults, $8.95 children ages 6-17, free under age 5. Group rates available.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum photo by Sean Russell

Photo: Sean Russell

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Fort Nashborough

The beginnings of Nashville 170 First Avenue North
Riverfront Park
Nashville, TN 37201
United States
+1 615 862 8424
http://www.nashville.gov/parks... Before 1779, the area known as Nashville was an uncharted wilderness. On Christmas Eve of that year these first settlers traveled by boat down the Cumberland River and settled on this spot. The settlement became known as Fort Nashborough, from which Nashville later took its name. This replica of the original settlement is authentic in many details and reflects the lifestyle of the frontier pioneers of the late 1700's.

Visitors can take a 20-minute self-guided tour. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Grand Ole Opry

The world's oldest radio show 2802 Opryland Drive
Grand Ole Opry House
Nashville, TN 37214
United States
+1 615 871 6779 / +1 615 8715043 (Tickets) / +1 800 733 6779 (Toll Free)
http://www.opry.com/ For more than 75 years, the best of country music has been broadcast live on the Opry stage of every Friday and Saturday night. Come see and hear true legends. Stars like Vince Gil, Alison Kraus, Garth Brooks, and Porter Waggoner grace the stage each week. All tickets are for reserved seats and can be purchased in advance. Availability is excellent during the winter months.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson,

The home built with love 4580 Rachel's Lane
Hermitage
Nashville, TN 37076
United States
+1 615 889 2941
http://www.thehermitage.com/ Glimpse back to antebellum America and the life of the seventh president, Andrew Jackson, by visiting the home he built in 1835. This classic Greek Revival mansion retains original architecture and furnishings. You will view a biographical film and museum exhibits then tour the mansion and grounds, including original 1804 slave cabins, Jackson's tomb, Tulip Grove mansion, Old Hermitage Church, and confederate cemetery. Restaurant and gift shop are also on site. Admission: USD10 adults, USD9 seniors and ages 18-13, USD5 ages 12-6, free under age 6. Group rates available. Limited handicapped accessibility.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Oscar Farris Agricultural Museum

Museum of Farms, Farming, and Farmers 440 Hogan Rd
(Ellington Agricultural Center)
Nashville, TN 37204
United States
+1 615 837 5197
http://www.tnagmuseum.org/ Less than ten minutes south of the busy downtown district is a poignant reminder of life as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries. Farming was a way of life for early settlers in middle Tennessee, and this museum features a host of artifacts and farming implements. The renovated horse barn contains over 2,500 items on display, tracing the history of pioneer families. Special activities for children make this a true hands-on educational experience. Butter churning, corn shelling, quilting and story telling bring youngsters into the action and provide hours of fun and learning for all ages.

Admission to the museum is free, but call ahead for reservations for your large group or school class.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Nashville - Historical Background"
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Nashville - Where to Stay
Nashville - Dining & Drinking
Nashville - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
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Chicago (671 miles)
New Orleans (749 miles)
Detroit (763 miles)
Jacksonville (806 miles)
Richmond (844 miles)
Washington DC (894 miles)

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