The city of Nashville in Tennessee was once called the ?Athens of the South? for its choice of style used for the centerpiece shown during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. That centerpiece is the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the famous temple in Athens, Greece. Originally made from wood, brick and plaster, the building was reconstructed using concrete.

Constructed in 1897, the Parthenon now stands at the center of Nashville?s Centennial Park. Inside is another recreation of an Athenian original, the 42-foot statue of Athena. The 42-foot statue was commissioned in 1982 and unveiled to the public on May 20, 1990.

The Parthenon functions as an art museum, where visitors can view a permanent exhibit of 63 paintings created by 19th and 20th century American artists. The painting collection was donated by James M. Cowan. The Parthenon also has additional gallery for other exhibits.