State Capitol
This first picture shows the Capitol Hill area during the Federal Occupation in the Civil War. Tennessee's Federal military governor Andrew Johnson feared that the Confederates would try to recapture Nashville so he transformed the state capitol into a fortress. Notice the soldiers camped on the grounds and the cedar stockade surrounding the building. Not visible in the photo are earthworks, barricades made of cotton bales and fifteen heavy guns. These defenses were maintained throughout the war. The citizens nicknamed the capitol building "Fort Andrew Johnson".
Once known as Hell's Half Acre, this badly run down neighborhood was about to be demolished when this photo was taken in 1950. The Capitol Hill Redevelopment Project, one of the first federal urban renewal projects in the nation, cleared ninety six acres here to make room for the James Robertson Parkway and a variety of new public and private buildings.
© 2000 by Troop 2616 Girl Scouts - Nashville, TN
All material contained within this electronic or its corresponding print publication is copyrighted 1999/2000. Any reproduction must be with specific written permission. Comments gladly accepted; send via e mail to Girl Scout Troop 2616