Let’s face it—when most people think of Nashville, their minds jump straight to honky tonks, hot chicken, and neon signs on Broadway. But what if we told you that some of the most fascinating parts of Nashville’s story have nothing to do with country music or bachelorette parties?
That’s the beauty of Nashville history tours. They peel back the rhinestone curtain to reveal stories that even many locals haven’t heard. These aren’t your average textbook facts. These are the secrets, scandals, and surprising legacies that shaped the city from its muddy frontier days to its modern status as a cultural powerhouse.
Here are five things you’ll learn on a Nashville walking tour that might just blow your boots off.
1. Tennessee Did Prohibition First
Most people think the national Prohibition era began with the 18th Amendment in 1920. But Tennessee? We were ahead of the curve—in a weird way. The Volunteer State passed its own prohibition laws nine years earlier, in 1910. Nashville’s reaction? Speakeasies flourished. Moonshine flowed. And Al Capone reportedly made visits to Nashville to move liquor and launder money through city businesses.
Some of the city’s most iconic buildings downtown once hid secret bars and illegal stills. And if you know where to look, the evidence is still there—right beneath your boots on a walking tour.
2. The Civil Rights Movement Had a Powerhouse in Nashville
You’ve likely heard of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., but what about Diane Nash? Or John Lewis before Congress?
Nashville played a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement. Students from Fisk University, Tennessee State, and American Baptist College organized some of the most effective sit-ins in the country—right in downtown Nashville. They were strategic, fearless, and rooted in nonviolent resistance. The city became a model for the rest of the South, and many of those student leaders went on to shape national civil rights policy.
Most people walk past these sites every day without realizing the history beneath their feet.
3. The Ryman Was Almost a Parking Lot
Today, the Ryman Auditorium is celebrated as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” But for decades after the Grand Ole Opry moved out, the building sat mostly abandoned.
In the 1970s, developers proposed demolishing it—yes, tearing down the Ryman—to make room for more parking. It took a major grassroots preservation effort to save it, and thank goodness it worked. Today it’s one of the most beloved music venues in the world.
On a Nashville history tour, you’ll hear how close we came to losing this iconic building—and how often Nashville has had to fight to preserve its past.
4. Nashville Was Once a Walled City—Sort Of
During the Civil War, Nashville was occupied by Union troops and transformed into one of the most heavily fortified cities in the South. By 1864, it was surrounded by forts, trenches, and artillery emplacements.
Fort Negley—just a mile from downtown—is the largest inland stone fort built during the war, and it was largely constructed by enslaved and freed Black laborers conscripted by the Union. Many Nashvillians have never even visited it, yet it’s one of the most powerful places to reflect on the city’s role in the war.
5. Broadway Was Once Known for Hardware, Not Honky Tonks
Before it was wall-to-wall bars and neon, Broadway was lined with hardware stores, department stores, and general commerce. It wasn’t until the 1970s and 80s—long after the Grand Ole Opry moved out of downtown—that the area began its transformation into a nightlife hub.
Many of the buildings still bear architectural clues to their past, hidden behind modern signage. On a Nashville walking tour, you’ll start to recognize the layers of the city—not just what it is, but what it was.
See the City Differently
The best part about taking a Nashville history tour is that you’ll never look at the city the same way again. The next time you walk past the Woolworth building or a dusty alley near Printer’s Alley, you’ll know exactly what happened there—and why it matters.
Because Nashville isn’t just Music City. It’s Movement City. Memory City. And sometimes, Mystery City.
Ready to walk through history?
Join us at Nashville Adventures and discover the hidden layers of the city you thought you knew. Our Nashville walking tours aren’t just about facts—they’re about stories, connection, and seeing Music City with fresh eyes.
Book your tour today and take a deeper step into Nashville’s past.
