The Partheno

Before Nashville became Music City, it was known as "the Athens of the South:" a nickname thanks in part to the striking full-size replica of the Parthenon at its heart. Originally built for Tennessee's Centennial Exposition in 1897, the Parthenon was reconstructed permanently in 1931. Today, it's home to the city's art collection, but the undisputed star of the show remains the gilded 42-foot sculpture of Athena, which dominates the upper hall and remains the tallest indoor statue in the Western hemisphere.