Tennessee's Bicentennial Mall

The Tennessee Bicentennial Capitol Mall was dedicated on Statehood Day, June 1, 1996, and over the past twenty-five years it has matured and hosted a wide variety of celebrations, concerts, and educational events. Located directly north of the Tennessee State Capitol, the 19-acre urban park has become one of Nashville's most visited public spaces and has received national and international recognition.In this comprehensive book, lead designer Kem Hinton first shares the story of the Capitol, the National Landmark designed in 1845 by architect William Strickland and regarded as the most important building in Tennessee. He next recalls the early efforts to establish a new park in an underappreciated part of Nashville, a commemorative civic gift that would provide an unobstructed vista of the historic statehouse. This is followed by an explanation of the design process to create within this public space an informative outdoor museum about the Volunteer State. Containing additional elements and enhancements during the past quarter-century, the park has been joined by the completion of two adjacent institutions: the new Tennessee State Museum and the new Tennessee State Library Museum. Now a comprehensive cultural and educational destination, the Bicentennial Mall and its complementary facilities combine to delight citizens and visitors, reinforcing the original theme of the park to present "the land, the people, and the music of Tennessee."