August 16, 2014

Nashville, TN

From the research I did on parking in Nashville I discovered that parking is free on the weekends on spots where the meters are not covered.  There is also parking allowed in the employee parking lots around the State Capitol building.   We decided that Saturday would be the better to go into the city as rain was forecast for Sunday.

It was only a 30 mile drive into the city from our campground.  After finding a spot in the employee parking lot off of Charlotte Avenue we walked the three blocks to our first destination, the Tennessee State Museum. 

The museum, free to the public, preserves the historical and material culture of Tennessee including paintings, silver, ceramics, textiles, furniture and firearms.

According to the brochure it would take at least an hour to tour the three floors of the museum.  

We found the exhibits so interesting we ended up spending three hours.

 

 

After checking my backpack at the front desk we began the tour on the upper level that contained the earliest known migration of prehistoric people and continues through the early 1800s.  

There are several stations along the tour with video that can be played with the push of a button.

We were very impressed with some of the furniture that was crafted to last-

some pieces over 200 years old 

 

 

 

 

The mezzanine level details life in Tennessee during the Antebellum (1840-1860) era before the Civil War. 

Wooden water pipe. 

Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale 

  This section documents the passing of frontier conditions and the state’s transformation into a more developed society with urban and cultural amenities. 

There is also a 3,500 year-old Egyptian mummy brought to Tennessee in 1859.   

 

 

 

 

 

  

 The last level we toured was the lower level that continues with antebellum exhibits, Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1969), and the New South (1870-1900). 
The Quilt Room-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Replica of slave quarters

In the Changing Galleries there is a fascinating exhibition only available until August 31 entitled Slaves and Slaveholders of Wessyngton Plantation.   The exhibit looks at the lives of both the enslaved African Americans and their white owners on the 13,000 acre plantation in Robertson County, Tennessee.

 

 Because of excellent record-keeping and the photography by the Wessyngton owners the exhibit reconstructs the lives of several enslaved people, giving them names, faces, and the details of what happened to them before, during, and after the Civil War. 

The plantation, established by Joseph Washington, was one of the largest plantations in Tennessee and the largest producer of tobacco in the U.S. in 1860.

With only two exceptions, the Washington’s never sold their slaves.  Slave families at Wessyngton had three to five generations living together, remarkable in a system that often separated enslaved families, including selling children away from their parents.

A section called “Legacies”, at the end of the exhibit, traces what happened to several of the slaves after the Civil war into the 20^th century.

When we left the museum we walked the few short blocks to The District area. 

Although it was only 4pm the streets were bustling with people, both tourists and street performers. 

Like most cities I have been to, I found it dirty with a strong urine odor blending in with cigarette smoke interrupted occasionally with the delectable aroma of barbeque. 

Carriage rides are available.  When Monte inquired about the cost, he was quoted $30.  He didn’t ask what the length of the ride was.

Doing the tourist thing-

If you are a real party animal you can take a ride on the Pedal Tavern for a mere $35.  The Pedal Tavern is a 16-person bicycle powered party on wheels.  They don’t sell beverages but you can bring your own.  This particular group was part of a bachelorette party. 

We took a walk through Boot Country.  We didn’t take any pictures respecting the sign prohibiting photography.

The next store we walked through was Savannah’s Candy Kitchen selling traditional as well as fresh-made candies and ice cream.

 

Everything smelled and looked delicious but we resisted buying anything. 

The sound of Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, a bluegrass band from Florida, enticed us into Layla’s where I ordered a thimble-sized glass (plastic cup) of wine for $6.50. 

The music was excellent but pangs of hunger had us leave in search of a place to eat.

There is no shortage of places to dine in The District.  When we noticed the long line of people waiting to get into Jack’s Bar-B-Que, we joined in-we figured it had to be good if that many people would be willing to wait as long as an hour to get in. 





We ordered a combo platter to share that included Tennessee pork shoulder, Texas beef brisket and smoked sausage accompanied with corn, mac and cheese and corn bread. 

It was delicious.

When we finished eating I told Monte I wouldn’t mind just walking back to the car and going home because between the smoke and the rowdy crowds I had had enough “partying”.  I guess I must be getting old because the appeal of watching TV on my couch was greater than staying in the city.