Heads up: If you head to Centennial Park to check out the Parthenon’s art collection, take note of the parking closures through fall of 2026. | Photo by @zachharrisonphotography
We think living in Nashville is the greatest gift of all, but our city has actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. From Nashville’s first park to public art collections and more, check out these four gifts given to the city.
The Parthenon’s permanent art collection | Nashville’s Grecian-inspired landmark houses a permanent collection of works by American artists from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The selection was donated in the 1920s by James M. Cowan, a businessman and art collector from Tennessee.
Watkins Park | Nashville’s first public park opened to locals in 1901, thirty years after being donated to the city by brickmaker Samuel Watkins. Fun fact: Some park features like walkways were also built with donated materials, and this park was also home to the city’s first public playground.
All you need is proof of residency to enjoy pay-what-you-want special access. | Photo provided by Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Country music artifacts donated by music icon Marty Stuart | In the fall of 2024, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum received a historic donation from Stuart. In total, the collection spans ~22,000 items, including showstoppers like a Johnny Cash stage suit.
$4.5 million to Nashville Public Library Foundation | Dolly Parton’s nonprofit, The Dollywood Foundation, announced this gift last year. It is the most significant gift ever given to the Nashville Public Library Foundation and will support early literacy programming in Davidson County.
Events
Events
It’s not too late to get into the holiday spirit with events around Nashville. Tap the button below for a little bit of everything coming up locally.
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Happy holidays, Nashville. As you read this, I’m probably watching the best film to exist (“Home Alone,” I will not be taking questions). Before I do that, I’ll leave you with some suggestions for ways to entertain family + friends in town:
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