Centennial Park (Nashville)

Centennial Park is an urban park on the west side of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, notable for its full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon and its role as a major municipal green space. The Parthenon functions as an art museum and landmark within the park.

The park offers formal lawns, walking paths, a small lake and recreational open space, with the Parthenon replica as the central architectural attraction. Inside the Parthenon visitors can see permanent and rotating art exhibits and the large indoor statue of Athena.

The Parthenon was first built as a temporary exhibition building for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition and was reconstructed in permanent materials in the early 20th century; the interior Athena statue by Alan LeQuire was installed in 1990. The park was developed around the exhibition site to provide long-term public open space.

Centennial Park sits west of downtown Nashville and is easily reached from the city’s central districts by a short drive or public transit; it functions as one of Nashville’s principal urban parks.

• Parthenon and Athena statue: The Parthenon replica was originally constructed for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition and later rebuilt in permanent materials; the interior contains a 42-foot statue of Athena by sculptor Alan LeQuire installed in 1990.
• Proximity to downtown: Located a short drive west of downtown Nashville, the park serves as a major cultural and recreational green space in the city.

What to See #

• Parthenon replica: A full-scale replica of the ancient Athenian Parthenon built for a turn-of-the-20th-century exposition and later reconstructed in permanent materials; it now houses an art museum and a large indoor sculpture.
• Park grounds and lake: Park grounds include formal lawns, walking paths and a small lake used for leisure and events adjacent to the museum building.