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Nashville, TN
March, 2001
Dear Jake & Amelia,
We were surprised to learn that the original home of the Grand Ole Opry
was built as a revival church in 1892 by riverboat Captain Thomas Ryman.
The tabernacle fell into disuse until 1925 when its doors were opened to
radio shows and live entertainment. Townsfolk filled the Ryman
Auditorium, eating fried chicken and fanning themselves in the heat. The
Grand Old Opry was housed here until 1974 when it was moved to a huge
new complex outside of town. The first home of the Old Opry is an
intimate space with an acoustical magic and a soul of its own. We felt excitement
standing on the same floorboards as all those famous people. We could
hear echoes of their footsteps, their voices and their music.
Nancy & Peter |
