Hey, history buffs. Submit your unofficial historical locations around town.
Have you ever looked at a local spot and thought, “This place deserves to be commemorated?” Our city is full of legendary locations — many of which are indicated by historical markers. Historical markers reveal significant places, streets, neighborhoods, buildings, businesses, and cultural events from the past or present. Think: RCA Studio B and the Rock Block.
But not all significant areas get the attention they deserve. What about Varallo’s, the downtown Nashville chili parlor that’s been serving the same recipe since 1907? Or the 150-ft-long sea serpent sculpture at Fannie Mae Dees Park, also known as Dragon Park? We want to put these places on the map — literally.
Rules + details
Submit your historic place for a chance to be featured nationwide on our historical marker map. Our favorite submissions will then be featured in our newsletter, where we’ll put it to a vote. Who knows? Maybe it will receive an official historical marker.
Submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Finalists will be selected by our team and announced in our newsletter. These finalists will then go head-to-head in a vote for our readers’ favorite. The winner will be announced later in December. No promises that it will get an actual historical marker, but it will be one in our hearts.
Want to know more about official historical markers around town? Check out Metro’s official list.
The results
The votes are in for the NASHtoday unofficial historical marker contest. Check out the finalists below, including the contest winner our readers voted for.
The park is also referred to as “Dragon Park” because of this very sculpture. | Photo by Adam Fagen via Flickr
Winner: Fannie Mae Dees Park
Over 50% of readers voted for this Hillsboro/West End staple. The outdoor space also known as Dragon Park may not have its own historical marker yet, but it is a stop on Nashville Sites’ LGBTQ driving tour. The park, which opened in 1978, became home to the 150-ft-long mosaic sea serpent sculpture in the early ‘80s. The sculpture underwent renovations a few years ago and is looking as dazzling as ever. Read more about the park’s history.
Are you more of a visual learner? Tour the space or take a workshop. | Photo by CatDancing via Flickr
Runner up: Hatch Show Print
Close behind the park was Hatch Show Print. Perhaps best known today for its iconic resume of concert posters, the shop has a rich history and continues to thrive out of its space inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Get a taste of the menu. | Screenshot via Google Street View
Varallo’s
As the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Tennessee, this downtown restaurant gives Music City some bragging rights if you ask us. Known for its chili that’s remained the same since opening in 1907, stop by Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m.
We got more submissions beyond these. Just check our map of unofficial historical locations.
