Ryman Auditorium

The Mother Church of Country Music. The Union Gospel Tabernacle was built in 1891 as a church for Rev. Samuel P. Jones by riverboat captain Thomas G. Ryman. The balcony was added in 1897 when the Confederate soldiers held a reunion in Nashville. A lot of different events were held here from plays, singers to Presidents. But it was in 1943 everything changed when the radio station WSM brought their barn dance to the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry was born. To imagine that Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny Cash and Minnie Pearl all preformed here. It was awesome. The tour guide told us that the acoustics here are second only to the Mormon Tabernacle. In 1974 the Opry moved to the new Opry House across town and this building sat vacant until 1994 when it was brought back to life. I left here wanting to see a concert here. Highlight of the trip.