In March, Nashville Sites launched a new historical driving tour in collaboration with Nashville Queer History.
Ready to hit the road? The LGBTQ History Driving Tour begins on Commerce Street and ends at Vanderbilt University. The self-guided tour includes historical context for each stop, as well as audio narration, directions, and parking information.
- Time: ~2 hours
- Distance: 30 miles
- Number of sites: 16
Stop 1: The Jungle and Juanita’s, 715 Commerce St. | “These two businesses made their mark on Nashville history as the earliest and best-known gay bars in the post-WWII era.”
Stop 2: Watch Your Hat and Coat Saloon, 139 2nd Ave. | “In 1971, Jerry Peek opened this club as Nashville’s first drag bar.” After Watch Your Hat and Coat Saloon was destroyed by fire in May 1973, Peek moved the drag shows to the Embers Cabaret Room.
Stop 3: Printers Alley and The Gas Lite | “The Gas Lite was a popular meeting place for gay organizations, including the committee that planned Nashville’s first Pride parade in 1988.”
View all 16 tour stops, including The Lipstick Lounge, Fannie Mae Dees Park (the site of the state’s first Pride parade), and Bianca Page Way.