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historical markers

Encore: As Nashville’s ‘Black Bottom’ gets historical marker, we’re revisiting this Curious Nashville story

Tony Gonzalez

March 11, 2025

The low-lying area of downtown Nashville that’s south of Broadway and along the Cumberland River was once known as “Black Bottom” and will get a historical marker.

Filed Under: Metro, WPLN News Tagged With: Curious Nashville, historical markers, history, Nashville neighborhoods

Nashville’s historical markers

Mary Mancini

July 23, 2024

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They’re big, metallic silver and stand about 8 feet tall. And yet, we’re all so busy getting from here to there; we often go right by without noticing. But if you take the time to stop and read one of the markers placed by the Metro Historical Commission, you can learn a lot about Nashville’s […]

Filed Under: Programs Tagged With: Bennie Thompson, historical markers, Jessica Reeves, John Bridges, Michael Hubbard

Historical markers are everywhere in America. Some get history wrong.

Laura Sullivan, NPRandNick McMillan, NPR

April 22, 2024

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The nation’s historical markers delight, distort and, sometimes, just get the story wrong.

Filed Under: History, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: Black history, historical markers, history, Indigenous history, NPR

Celebrating the first ever Bettie Page Day

Rose Gilbert

April 21, 2023

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In this episode, we’re talking all about the native Nashvillian turned “Queen of Pinups” with her friends, family and fans. 

Filed Under: Programs Tagged With: historical markers

Nashville honors Dr. Josie Wells, who helped lead Meharry before women could vote

Blake Farmer

May 20, 2022

Josie Wells
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Nashville officials are dedicating a historical marker on the campus of Meharry Medical College Friday to honor one of the first women to get her medical degree from the historically Black institution.

Filed Under: Health Care, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: historical markers, history, Meharry Medical College

New historical marker honors one of Nashville’s first female doctors

Paige Pfleger

December 14, 2021

The Metro Historical Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve a new marker in honor of Dr. Josie Wells. It will be placed outside Nashville General Hospital.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: historical markers, history, Metro Historical Commission

Despite Some Pushback, Cane Ridge Marker Will Publicize More Of Nashville’s History Of Lynchings

Ambriehl Crutchfield

September 20, 2021

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A 15-year-old Black boy was lynched by a white mob on Dec. 15, 1924. Despite a grand jury investigation, public outcry and a reward, no one was ever charged. Now, a new marker at the site of Davidson County’s last known lynching aims to share Samuel Smith’s story.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, History, Metro, Politics, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: Davidson County, General Hospital, Germantown, historical markers, lynching, Metro Historical Commission, North Nashville, Rutherford County, Saint Thomas

Nashville Celebrates A School Integration Pioneer With A Historical Marker

Meribah Knight

November 6, 2019

Nashville’s historical commission unveiled a marker celebrating the late civil rights activist, Alfred Z. Kelley, on Tuesday. The plaque, erected at an…

Filed Under: History, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: historical markers

Franklin’s New Historical Markers Reflect African Americans In City’s Civil War Legacy

Natasha Senjanovic

October 18, 2019

Public commemoration of Franklin’s past got a little fuller this week, after five markers detailing the city’s African American history were unveiled…

Filed Under: History, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: Franklin, historical markers

New Historical Markers Show Where Lynchings Took Place In Davidson County

Elliott Wenzler

June 20, 2019

Listen Two historical markers now stand where lynchings took place in downtown Nashville during the 1800s. They’re the first such markers in the city. They were unveiled as a part of Juneteenth, which commemorates the abolition of slavery.

Filed Under: History, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: historical markers, history, slavery

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