Local History Videos

Old Images of Nashville, Tennessee in Historic Photos & Film

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Debbie Death
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Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War

Glimpse history through fascinating old images of Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville in the 1860s

During the American Civil War of the 1860s, a series of photographs taken by Jacob Coonley and George Barnard recorded what Nashville looked like.

Old photo of the railroad depot at Nashville during the American Civil War in the 1860s
Old photo of the railroad depot at Nashville during the American Civil War in the 1860s. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo of the Nashville Hospital Ship during the American Civil War of the 1860s
Old photo of the Nashville Hospital Ship during the American Civil War of the 1860s. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing the Capitol at Nashville Tennessee in 1863 or 1864
Old photo showing the Capitol at Nashville Tennessee in 1863 or 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee from the Capitol in 1864
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee from the Capitol in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing part of the Capitol at Nashville Tennessee in 1864 during the American Civil War
Old photo showing part of the Capitol at Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing part of the Capitol at Nashville Tennessee in 1864
Old photo showing part of the Capitol at Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864
Old photo showing a view of Nashville Tennessee in 1864, during the American Civil War. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.
Old photo of the U.S. Quartermaster's repair shop on the Nashville Turnpike during the American Civil War
Old photo of the U.S. Quartermaster’s repair shop on the Nashville Turnpike during the American Civil War, taken in March 1864. From the archives of the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.

Old Photos of Nashville

This video showcases old photos of Nashville taken between 1864 and 1901. Most are labelled clearly with the location and approximate date, so you always know where and when you are looking at.

The old photos include a block house in 1864, a class of students at Fisk University in 1900, streetcars rumbling past Union Station in 1900, and horses and carts outside the Federal Building the same year.

Old photos of Nashville(Tennessee)1864-1901 – oldstuff4all

The 1916 Fire

In 1916, a huge fire in East Nashville brought out every single fire station across the city to one location for the first time. It destroyed many buildings, with people desperatley trying to drag out their funriture before they lost their homes.

Pictures: 100th Anniversary of Great Nashville Fire – NewsChannel 5 on YouTube

Prison Hostages 1960

On Thursday, March 24th, 1960, two long-term convicts at the Nashville State Prison held several hostages at gunpoint for 25 hours.

The newsreel says they held 19 hostages. The New York times stated it was 15 or 16, of which 3 were women.

Somehow the News of the Day cameras managed to get footage from the inside of the jail section where the hostages were being held, and filmed the attempts to end the incident.

State Corrections Commissioner Keith Hampton, State Safety Commissioner Greg O’Rear, Assistant Corrections Commissioner A. Patterson and state prison warden Lynn Bomar were in the team of officials trying to resolve the situation.

The Reverend Charles O’Donnell held a telephone conference with the hostage takers, who were demanding their freedom in return for the lives of their hostages.

The events ended when the convicts were promised they could be moved to another jail. They then let all their hostages go, unharmed.

Grim Prison Drama In Tennessee (1960) – British Pathé on YouTube

Nashville in 1985

In 1985, CityScape Productions produced this promotional film, created to encourage tourism to the Tennessee city.

It has views of a flight across the city, many images of landmarks including the Parthenon, Ryman Auditorium, the Governor’s House, and the now lost Opryland USA.

There are also glimpses of the Summer Lights arts festival, and Fan Fair, which later evolved into the CMA Music Festival.

“Nashville” 1985 Tourism Promotional Video – Zack Bennett on YouTube

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