Unspecified/General

Affectionately known as the "Mother Church of Country Music," the Ryman Auditorium occupies a singular place in American musical history. Built by the riverboat captain and convert Thomas G. Ryman as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the brick, Gothic Revival building opened on 4 May 1892 in downtown Nashville and welcomed its first secular performances soon after. It went on to host opera divas, presidents and dancers before settling, in 1943, into its most famous role as home of the Grand Ole Opry, a residency that lasted until 1974 and made the venue synonymous with country music. The auditorium's 2,362 wooden pews, several still original to the 1890s, give the space the look and acoustic intimacy of a country chapel, and performers and audiences alike speak of an almost spiritual quality to the sound. The Confederate Gallery, the curving balcony added in 1897, is itself a piece of social history, recognised by a National Historic Landmark designation and, more recently, by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After the Opry moved out, the Ryman fell into disrepair and was nearly lost, but a thoughtful renovation reopened it in 1994 and a second expansion in 2015 brought modern dressing rooms, concessions and a small museum without compromising the sanctuary itself. Today it hosts more than two hundred concerts a year and offers daytime tours. Standing on its stage, where Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and countless others performed, remains a coveted milestone for artists of every genre, and a section of its original floor was cut and embedded in the newer Opry House nearby. For visitors, a tour or a concert at the Ryman is more than entertainment, it is a pilgrimage to one of the most storied performance halls in the world. Self-guided and guided backstage tours run throughout the day and can be paired with a souvenir recording made in a small studio on site. With its rare combination of acoustic intimacy, deep history and a packed concert calendar, the Ryman remains both a living performance hall and a working museum, and a visit, whether by day or for a night show, ranks among the essential Nashville experiences.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 116 5th Avenue North, Nashville, United States

Telephone: 615-889-3060

Website: ryman.com

Capacity: 2362

Opening Date: 04/05/1892