United States Tennessee Nashville's Best Free Historical Attractions By Jan Duke Jan Duke Jan Duke's Tennessee ancestry dates back well into the 18th century. She has written hundreds of articles about Nashville and the state of Tennessee. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 07/06/19 Fact checked by Erin Medlicott Fact checked by Erin Medlicott LinkedIn Twitter New York University Rutgers University Erin Medlicott is a fact checker and researcher with a background in lifestyle and finance. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. She earned a TripSavvy's fact-checking From museums to parks, there's something to be found in Nashville for all kinds of history fans—even the most frugal of folks! 01 of 10 Tennessee State Museum TripSavvy / Ivey Redding View Map Address 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-741-2692 Web Visit website The Tennessee State Museum (TSM) is one of the largest state museums in the nation. TSM is located in Downtown Nashville at 5th Street and Deaderick Street; look for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center marquee. Local favorites at the museum include the Egyptian mummy, Civil War Exhibit, and the Frontier Display. Admission is free for all permanent exhibits. 02 of 10 Tennessee State Capitol Malcolm MacGregor / Getty Images View Map Address 600 Dr. M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Nashville, TN 37243, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-360-4326 Web Visit website Designed by architect William Strickland, the Tennessee Capitol building overlooks Bicentennial Mall. Construction began on the Capitol Building in 1844 and was completed in 1859. Strickland died during the construction in 1854 and is actually buried within its walls. The State Capitol building sits atop a high hill in downtown Nashville and offers a spectacular view of many areas around the downtown area. 03 of 10 War Memorial Building Danita Delimont / Getty Images View Map Address 301 6th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37243, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-782-4030 Web Visit website The War Memorial Building was built in 1925 to honor soldiers who died in World War I and it is home to the Tennessee State Museum's Military Branch Exhibit. The centerpiece of this exhibit is a large statue entitled Victory, located in the atrium. The War Memorial Building is located across the street from the State Capital. 04 of 10 Historic Second Avenue Mx. Granger / Wikimedia Commons / BY CC0 Formally known as Market Street, Second Avenue was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This area is Nashville’s oldest downtown district and encompasses somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 or so properties. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Historic Lower Broadway FangXiaNuo / Getty Images Lower Broadway encompasses some of the oldest blocks in Nashville. Currently, Lower Broadway is home to most of the local honky-tonks. Many of the buildings are still intact (with a renovation here and there), and several still stand just as proud as they did during the Civil War. 06 of 10 Nashville Arcade Mall Raymond Boyd / Getty Images View Map Address 65 Arcade Alley, Nashville, TN 37219, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-248-6673 The Nashville Arcade Mall was built in the late spring of 1903. Modeled after an arcade in Italy, it is one of a few of its kind remaining in the country. It has an awe-inspiring glass roof that goes from one end to the other. In the last decade, the Arcade has undergone a wonderful revitalization. It is now filled with art galleries and other businesses that include the old peanut shop and even a few specialty stores. 07 of 10 Downtown Library Raymond Boyd / Getty Images View Map Address 615 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219-2314, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-880-2613 While there are plenty of grandiose things to see and do at the Downtown Nashville Library, the place for History Lovers to go is the Special Collections Section located on the library's second floor. It is home to the Nashville Room, the Civil Rights Room, and the Nashville Banner Archives. This is where you can find everything that you ever needed or wanted to know about Nashville. A special highlight included in the Civil Rights Room is a symbolic lunch counter. You will also find a timeline of national, state, and local civil rights events. 08 of 10 Bicentennial Mall Raymond Boyd / Getty Images View Map Address 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243-1200, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-741-5280 Web Visit website Shops, Boutiques & Markets 4.6 The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, one of Nashville's hidden gems, is located in the northwestern part of downtown Nashville, between Jefferson Street and James Robertson Parkway—next to Farmer's Market. This 19-acre park was built in honor of Tennessee’s 200th year of statehood and offers visitors a serene and captivating look into Tennessee history at every turn. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Fort Negley TripSavvy / Ivey Redding View Map Address 1100 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-862-8470 Web Visit website Fort Negley was the largest fortification built by the occupying Union Army in Nashville, and the largest inland stone fort constructed during the Civil War. Though the fort was used as a Union Army centerpiece when declaring its superiority over Confederate forces, it was never actually directly attacked during the Battle of Nashville. Fort Negley now hosts a grand Visitor Center, just over 4,600-square-foot; it includes a multipurpose theater, exhibit space, meeting room, and an outdoor plaza. 10 of 10 Fort Nashborough Danita Delimont / Getty Images View Map Address 170 1st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201, USA Get directions Phone +1 615-862-8400 Web Visit website Nashville was founded by James Robertson, when he led a party of early pioneers across the frozen Cumberland River to a place called the Cedar Bluffs, on Christmas Eve, in 1779. Here is where the city of Nashville was founded, and Fort Nashborough was built, making it the first white settlement in the area. The fort was named after the American Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash and, while the current fort is a reconstruction, it is still worth a visit. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email