Parthenon

Activity Overview

If your family has always wanted to see the architectural wonders of Ancient Greece but can't afford flights to Europe, the next best option may be to visit Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee. This popular park near downtown Nashville is home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon, a temple in Athens that is considered to be one of the greatest cultural monuments in the world. It was constructed in the park in 1897 as the centerpiece of the state's centennial celebrations and is now used as an art museum.

Things to Do

• Bring a camera to Centennial Park so that you can take photos of the beautiful replica of the Parthenon, which is considered to be the most important building from Classical Greece that is still standing.
• View the reproduction of the Athena Parthenos statue, an ancient sculpture of the Greek goddess Athena that went missing centuries ago. This beautiful 41-foot tall statue was added to the site in 1990, and is one of the largest indoor sculptures in the world.
• Explore the art museum inside the Parthenon! It contains a collection of several dozen paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists and also showcases temporary exhibitions.

Parthenon Insider Tips

• If you want to go inside of the Parthenon to see the Athena Parthenos statue and the art museum, make sure to visit any day except Monday, when the museum is closed.
• Check out the rest of Centennial Park, including beautiful Lake Watauga and scenic walking trails.
• Consider bringing along a picnic lunch to eat in the park while enjoying the views of the Parthenon.