War Memorial Building & Legislative Plaza
Category: Capital City Tour
Details
Built as a memorial to the Tennessee soldiers who died in World War I, the War Memorial Building was the first building constructed for state offices outside the capitol itself. Designed in the Greek Doric order by architect Edward Dougherty with McKim, Mead and White, this building has a Doric-columned atrium as its focal point. Engraved into the west and north walls are the names of 3,400 Tennesseans who gave their lives in World War I and a statue entitled “Victory” by Nashville sculptor Belle Kinney sits in the center of the atrium. On each side of this atrium lie wings housing government offices and a large auditorium where WSM’s Grand Ole Opry performed for a time before moving to Ryman Auditorium. The basement of War Memorial once housed the Tennessee State Museum; the Military Branch of the State Museum is still located here.
Legislative Plaza, outside to the east of the War Memorial Building, creates an open-air space for public events. Below ground is a labyrinth of government office spaces and committee rooms for the Tennessee General Assembly. Through the underground Motlow Tunnel, Legislative Plaza is connected to the Tennessee State Capitol. On the plaza stands a statue dedicated to the Women of the Confederacy also sculpted by Belle Kinney and a monument to the Tennesseans who served in the Korean War by sculptor Russell Faxon. Vietnam Veterans Park lies south of the building and contains a statue by Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire.
- The Library623 Union St (299 feet S)
- Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges231 Sixth Ave N (317 feet SE)
- The Pink Hermit231 6th Ave N (318 feet SE)
- Till Five Pizza231 7th Avenue N (369 feet SW)
- Hermitage Hotel Gift Shop231 6th Ave N (369 feet SE)
- Sam's Clothing & Shoes227 5th Ave N (758 feet E)
- Walgreens226 5th Ave N (758 feet E)
- Chauvet Arts215 Rep John Lewis Way N. (845 feet SE)
- Vintage Creek Boutique24 Arcade (880 feet E)
- War Memorial Auditorium301 6th Ave N (141 feet SW)
- Military Museum301 6th Ave N (171 feet W)
- TPAC - Tennessee Performing Arts Center505 Deaderick St (339 feet E)
- Trixstar Entertainment424 Church St (484 feet E)
- State of TN Charlotte between 7th Ave N & Rosa L P (398 feet SW)
- Hermitage Hotel212 Capitol Blvd (404 feet SE)
- Sheraton Grand Hotel623 Union St (473 feet S)
- Nashville City Center511 Union St (492 feet E)