This page is a living, breathing and ever growing list of the history of Nashville.
Historical Nashville
1945
January 1
First Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack opens on Jefferson St at 28th Avenue
1954
January 1
Harold & Owen Bradley open ‘Bradley Studios’. It will be known as ‘The Quonset Hut’. The first recording in the studio was Gene Vincent’s ‘Be-Bop-a-Lula’. The actual Quonset Hut was added in 1955.
October 2
Elvis makes his one and only appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. He is reportedly encouraged to go back to driving a truck.
1957
November 1
Studio B opens in November. First recordings are by the Everly Brothers.
1960
1971
August 1
Saber Tooth Tiger Bones Discovered Downtown. 11,000 years old, they provide the inspiration for the ‘Predators’ hockey team.
1972
May 27
Opryland USA theme park opens
1974
March 15
Grand Ole Opry last regular show at the Ryman
March 16
Grand Ole Opry moves to new location
1977
November 24
Opryland Hotel opens with 580 guest rooms. It will grow to it’s current size of 2,888 rooms.
1979
October 9
Amtrak Service Ends in Nashville
1994
September 1
‘Batman Building’ then known as the BellSouth Building is completed. Now renamed AT&T Building
1996
June 1
Bicentennial Mall Dedicated
1997
December 31
Opryland USA closes its doors
2010
May 1
13-19 inches of rain causes Nashville to flood. $2.3 billion in damages. 31 dead in TN, KY and MS.
