31 Days of Nashville – Nashville City Cemetery

Photo Credit: Wayne Hsieh

Okay, I get it. It might be creepy to list a cemetery on a list of what makes Nashville awesome, but the Nashville City Cemetery truly belongs on this list and not for any sort of ghostly or spooky reasons. It’s really all about the history that now resides in the cemetery. Since opening in 1822, the cemetery has become home to many famous Nashvillians and Tennesseeans, including four of Nashville’s founders, James & Charlotte Robertson and John & Ann Robertson Cockrill (you’ve probably seen their names around town on streets and buildings). There’s also one of Tennessee’s Governors, William Carroll, 15 of Nashville’s Mayors, and many other residents of the area. President James K Polk was even buried there briefly (he was later buried at his home, then moved again to the capitol in Nashville).

So maybe visiting a cemetery isn’t on your list of places to see in Nashville, and I get it. I don’t know that I would have ever visited the cemetery if it wasn’t for the annual Living History Tour that is held in the cemetery every fall. I’ve been a few times over the years, and it’s always a great experience. Each year, they arrange several historical interpreters to represent some of the cemetery’s residents and tell their life story.

The 2013 tour has already passed, but there are guided tours regularly scheduled about once a month during the warmer months (April to October). There are also clean up days once a month to help keep the cemetery in good shape to enjoy for many more years. Check out the Events page for a list of all upcoming events. The cemetery is open every day from dawn to dusk.

Nashville City Cemetery
1001 Fourth Avenue South
Nashville TN 37203

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy.