Entry No. 25 — the Nashville file — filed under: African American history

Greenwood Cemetery

Preston Taylor, born enslaved in Louisiana in 1849, bought 37 acres at Elm Hill Pike and Spence Lane in 1887 to found only Nashville's second cemetery for African Americans — then built Greenwood Park next door, the city's first public park Black Nashvillians were allowed to use, and was himself buried here after his death in 1931.

The move: Walk the grounds to find sculptor William Edmondson's and Grand Ole Opry harmonica pioneer DeFord Bailey's graves, then read up on Taylor's own life story before crossing into what remains of Greenwood Park.

• 📍 South Nashville
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 1428 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · tennesseeencyclopedia.net

last checked: 2026-07-20