|
Trip Day:
|
206
|
Latitude:
|
36°09.72'
N
|
Locks Today:
|
0
|
|
Miles Today:
|
0
|
Longitude:
|
087°46.39' W
|
Locks Total:
|
94
|
|
Total Miles:
|
4,322
|
Location:
|
Nashville, TN – Downtown Docks
|
||
This side trip to Nashville was partly to experience the Cumberland River, but mainly to see family on Jean’s side. When I was little, every summer my family would take a road trip to Tennessee; Nashville, Shelbyville, and Murfreesboro were our destinations. Both of my parents were born in Nashville, then later moved to Murfreesboro and I have cousins who remain in the area. My cousin on my mother’s side, Andy, came to the boat to visit, then took us to lunch at Jacks on Broadway. Andy, the pack rat, is a historian, antique lover and collector. He gave us a walking tour of the downtown district, then we chatted for hours about family history as I quizzed him. We had a great visit, and I promised to return by car with my computer and scanner so he can share family photos he has squired away amongst his collections and records. Thank you Suzanne for sharing your husband with us for the day while you celebrated your birthday with friends!
We had time for a little sightseeing later in the day—most sights were only blocks from our dock. There was a Civil War Walking Tour which started at the park on the river. Two blocks from the boat was the site of Fort Nashborough. In May of 1780 representatives from several settlements met at the fort and adopted the Cumberland Compact for the government of the new settlement. A year later the settlers drove off the Indians in the Battle of the Bluffs. The original Fort Nashborough measured 247 feet by 123 feet with two-storied blockhouses at the corners for defense. 
We hopped on a free bus line and went exploring. The old downtown had so many beautiful, historic buildings and churches and then there was the State Capitol building and the “Batman Building”.
After 10 years of construction, the world’s only replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon was unveiled at Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition in 1897. It stands 65’ high at the apex, supported by 46 Doric columns. The doors are 24’ tall and each door weighs 7.5 tons.
The gold-leaf gilded statue of Athena stands 42’ and in her hand she holds a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, which is 6’4” tall. It was hard to make sense of the Parthenon standing in a lovely multi-acre park in the middle of downtown Tennessee! It was, however, an amazing structure.
Marc and Betty, on KatMan2, headed out this afternoon to return to Grand Rivers and continue south. We returned to Broadway for dinner and people watching before returning to the boat. The downtown streets, with lights in the trees were scenic, but the overall impression of Nashville remains all about the music!
Remember . . . you can spot us on Google Maps by clicking on Location: Nashville, in the footer below.
No comments:
Post a Comment