by Sande Waybill

Created on: July 10, 2009

The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park first opened in 1996, on June 1. The street address for the park is 600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville. The park measures 19 acres. The park won an award from the Nashville Business Journal in 2006 as it was then ranked as the most popular tourist destination in Nashville. The Tennessee History Festival is held in the park annually during the month of October.

On weekdays, park rangers give guided tours of the park. These include references to its historical, recreational, and natural attractions. The telephone contact number for the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is 615-741-5280. You may need to call this number if you plan to visit and choose to have a guided tour, as the park rangers operate to an irregular schedule.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is a large and previously swampy area in downtown Nashville city. 'Bicentennial' stems from the park being prepared as a memorial of the bicentennial celebrations for Tennessee. 'Mall' comes from the plan to create the park in a similar format to that of a mall situated in Washington DC.

The park is situated close to the Tennessee Capitol Building, from which it received the 'Capitol' part of its name. The state park has saved the only remaining decent view of this building, which has been dwarfed by high-rise buildings over the years, predominantly in the 1950's and 1960's. As the land upon which the park is now situated was unsuitable for building tall structures securely, it was considered ideal to turn the land into a park and firmly secure the view.

Among the regular attractions are granite maps of Tennessee, special fountains designating the rivers of the state, the Zero Mile Marker, commemorative historical plaques on the pathway known as 'Pathway of History' and 'Walkway of Counties', a 2000-seat amphitheater, a World War II memorial, the 'Path of Volunteers', a train trestle running above the park, the CCC Memorial, a giant state map on the ground at the park entrance that is closest to town, and a carillon at the end furthest from the city center.

There are restrooms and picnic tables close to the railway trestle that runs above the park. Next to the park is the popular Farmer's market where you will find a meeting room and an international food court. A souvenir shop is also available with additional restrooms at the entry to the park closest to town.

For current events occurring in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, you can refer to http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Bicentenn ial/index.shtml#events.

For park policies: http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/policies. shtml.

URL used to assist research:

http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Bicentenn ial/index.shtml

(Additional information obtained from personal visit.)

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