Centennial Park

Centennial Park which occupies 132 acres and is located west of downtown is considered Nashville's premier urban park. It hosts the iconic Parthenon, walking trails, a small lake, an art center, gardens, volleyball courts and more. The park plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year including Musician's Corner, a weekly series that runs in the Summer, and the Tennessee Craft Fair. The park was the site of the Tennessee Centennial Exhibition in 1897 which celebrated, the 100th anniversary of Tennessee's entrance into the union. This festival was the occasion that led to the Parthenon being built. Originally the Parthenon was intended as a temporary structure but its popularity led to Nashville's decision to permanently rebuild it with concrete in 1915.