Let your memories become a part of Centennial Park history

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Do you have old photos, programs or other mementos of Centennial Park? If so, you are invited to share your memories of one of Nashville’s most beloved landmarks and play a part in preserving the history of Centennial Park for future generations.

A roundtable event, “Gonna Take a Centennial Journey,” took place on Thursday, May 21, at the John Seigenthaler Center. Open to the public, Mayor Karl Dean attended and introduced the discussion. Fisk historian Reavis Mitchell; May Dean Eberling, formerly of the Metro Historical Commission and NewsChannel 5 Network; and Tennessee Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke were among the roundtable participants. Storytellers from the community were also on hand to reminisce and reflect about what Centennial Park has meant to them through the years.

John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center and chairman emeritus of The Tennessean, hosted the roundtable discussion about the Park and its importance to the Nashville community. “As one of so many thousands of Nashvillians whose life has been enriched by enjoyable visits to Centennial Park, I thank Mayor Dean and The Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park for giving us a chance, through personal story-telling, to create a citizens' oral history of the place that has meant so much to our city and its people. I hope everyone, young and old, with a "Centennial story" will take the time to be part of this project."

Event organizers invite the public to share their memories and are looking for images to create a fuller, more personal history of the Park’s use. Photos will be included in a slide presentation and shared online through the Conservancy website and Facebook pages.

If you would like to contribute materials or submit your written recollections of Centennial Park to the project, you may do so with the links below, or visit The Conservancy’s Facebook page. For assistance you may also contact Sylvia Rapoport at 862-8431.

May 21 Roundtable Invitation
Share Your Memories via email
Print this form to write and mail your memories
The Tennesseean's database of historical Centennial Park pictures