The Parthenon in Nashville (Click the image for a full screen view) The Parthenon in Nashville The City of Nashville first undertook the construction of a full-scale replica of the Parthenon to house the art exhibition for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Cities, industries and other interest groups built pavilions for the celebration. Nashville's pavilion was constructed of brick, wood and plaster and was intended to reflect the city's reputation as the "Athens of the South." The celebration lasted from May to October of 1897, just six months. Once the exposition was over, all of the buildings were moved or disassembled except for the Parthenon. Due to popular demand, the city left the temporary structure standing which was replaced by a permanent structure finished in 1931. Today, the Parthenon is the centerpiece of Centennial Park, a city park named for this...