Unless history is your day job, you might not know Nashville is home to 250+ historical markers and over 50 state and nationally designated sites, buildings, and districts.
That’s where Nashville Sites comes in. This mobile-friendly resource offers more than 35 self-guided walking and driving tours, with historical context, images, and narration from local historians at each stop. To help you get started, we’ve compiled eight tours to inspire your next adventure.
Pro tip: Most tours can be accessed virtually.
Civil Rights Sit-Ins | 1.2 hours and 10 sites
The tour, written and narrated by Fisk University professor Linda Wynn, features stops at the Woolworth building, the Arcade, and John Lewis’ historical marker and mural.
East Nashville | 1.5 hours and 13 sites
Explore one of Nashville’s oldest neighborhoods on this tour through Edgefield, East End, and Lockeland Springs. See how East Nashville grew from a rural suburb into a busy urban district, visit schools and landmarks, and understand how disasters like the Great Fire of 1916 and the 2020 tornado impacted the community.
Fisk University and Meharry Medical College | 2 hours and 21 sites
Walk through the history of two of the oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This tour shares Fisk and Meharry’s origins and highlights historic buildings, campus life, and influential alumni who shaped education and health care.
Acme’s Hatchery event space nods to when Acme Farm Supply used to hatch 4,000 chicks a week — discover more fun facts on the Food for Thought tour. | Photo via Pexels
Food for Thought | 1.5 hours and 13 sites
Discover how Southern food, local history, and architecture intersect downtown — with the option to taste along the way or just enjoy the stories. The tour weaves landmarks, historic hotels, and restaurants into one flavorful stroll, from the Hermitage Hotel to Acme Feed & Seed.
Hidden History and Haunts | 1.5 hours and 18 sites
Uncover stories and tall tales woven into Music City’s lesser-known history. Highlights include overlooked spots and long-gone businesses around The Arcade, Printers Alley, and Public Square Park.
LGBTQ History Driving | 1.5 hours and 16 sites
This tour, created in partnership with Nashville Queer History, highlights sites like Fannie Mae Dees Park (location of the state’s first Pride parade), The Lipstick Lounge, and Bianca Page Way.
McKissack and Black Architecture | 1 hour and 9 sites
Discover the legacy of McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s first Black-owned architecture firm, and its lasting impact on Nashville’s buildings and neighborhoods. Begin the tour in TSU’s visitor’s parking lot and conclude on Edgehill Avenue.
Don’t forget to pose in front of the murals at some of these spots.
Photo by NASHtoday + @precision_canine_lh and @radiantlygolden
WeHo Happy Hour | 1 hour and 12 sites
Make your way through Wedgewood-Houston’s bars, breweries, and distilleries to see how this industrial hub evolved into an arts district. You’ll pass historic sites like May Hosiery Mills and the old United Record Pressing plant, along with local favorites like Gabby’s Burgers and Fries, Diskin Cider, and Bastion.
Women’s Sports History | 1.5 hours and 19 sites
From TSU Olympians to Sarah Fuller making football history at Vanderbilt, this tour spotlights Tennessee’s trailblazing women in sports. Hear stories of Wilma Rudolph, Alex Walsh, and Tracy Caulkins Stockwell at local universities and other key sites.
Editor’s note: Some Nashville Sites tour stops have closed since the time of publishing.
