These Photos of Nashville Will Have You Packing Your Bags for Music City, USA

Travel | July 24, 2026 8:00 a.m. These 15 images from the archives of the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest give us a glimpse of life in Tennessee’s capital city A busy scene unfolds on Broadway in Nashville, featuring a taxicab parked on the curb, a “pedal tavern” and a scooter rider. Cleo Bond, 2023 These Photos of Nashville Will Have You Packing Your Bags for Music City, USA These 15 images from the archives of the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest give us a glimpse of life in Tennessee’s capital city Photographs selected by Allison Scates July 24, 2026 8:00 a.m. A busy scene unfolds on Broadway in Nashville, featuring a taxicab parked on the curb, a “pedal tavern” and a scooter rider. Cleo Bond, 2023 Nashville is known for its country music scene, vibrant nightlife, bachelorette parties, food and cultivation of Southern charm. But the home of the Grand Ole Opry contains multitudes. Luckily, these photographers’ lenses found unique ways of highlighting all the things that make Nashville iconic. Explore raw scenes of architecture, festivals, animals and mundane daily life, all of which round out Tennessee’s capital city. Nashville’s Parthenon glows at twilight. Originally built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, this replica of the original Parthenon in Athens serves as a monument to what is considered the pinnacle of classical architecture. Jana Foster, 2010 Skateboarders perform tricks on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge while their friends film them for social media. Suzanne Asaturian, 2023 Birds fly above the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge in downtown Nashville at sunset. Scarlett Collins, 2021 During a Fourth of July daylong celebration on Broadway, pedestrians fill the street, wear cowboy hats and listen to live music. Justina Ray, 2019 A man in a vintage car passes Nashville’s replica of the Parthenon. Zili Zhang, 2022 In northern Nashville, a woman walks over a mile with a bag of groceries without once looking up, the photographer says. Jaime Torres, 2019 Guitarist Billy Crain poses in front of an American flag mural outside of a local fire hall. Mark Maryanovich, 2017 People stroll along the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge during a glowing and warm sunset. Urte Kortjohann, 2017 This image of downtown Nashville captures the colorful energy of the city’s nightlife. The photographer layered three images on top of one another to create this buzzing scene. Mayur Phadtare, 2016 A man poses for a portrait on the streets of Nashville outside of a tattoo parlor. John Collins, 2015 The Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge glistens and reflects on the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville on a late-summer evening. Don McEwen, 2015 A young fox searches for food in front of a glowing Nashville. The photographer visited the lot where this photo was taken for days until he captured a photo of the fox. Patrick Maciel, 2024 A truck carrying the phrase “Jesus is Lord” sits parked alongside a barbed-wire fence. Sharon Hart, 2009 The sun sets and spreads colors over the Nashville skyline. Scott Evers, 2009 You Might Also Like Planning Your Next Trip? Explore great travel deals A Note to our Readers Smithsonian magazine participates in affiliate link advertising programs. If you purchase an item through these links, we receive a commission. More about: Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries Tennessee