Visit the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville

A colleague of mine ended up attending a work conference with me in Nashville. Brady is much more familiar with country music than I am, and was able to visit the Ryman Auditorium, which housed the Grand Ole Opry for three decades.

My daughter and I stopped by the exterior of the Ryman during our whirlwind trip. We grabbed a few photos, but I asked Brady to write about his experience touring the place to help other travelers know what to expect if the Ryman was on their list of “Must See” during a trip to Nashville.

The Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville is The Mother Church of Country Music

If you’re visiting Nashville, a tour of the Ryman Auditorium is well worth the time — especially if you’re a country music fan. It was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974 and is known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” Many country legends like Marty Robbins, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash were mainstays on the Ryman’s historic stage.

When I first approached the building, I thought I was in the wrong place because it looked more like a church than a theater. I later learned that it was originally a church, called the Union Gospel Tabernacle, built by a local businessman named Thomas Ryman in 1892. It was renamed the Ryman Auditorium after his death in 1904. It was initially used for church services on Sundays and other concerts and events during the week. Eventually it evolved into exclusively a concert venue.

After the Opry left the Ryman Auditorium in 1974, it moved to its current home at the Grand Old Opry House, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Nashville. But there are still frequent Opry and other performances at the Ryman. I haven’t attended a performance there, but I can imagine it would be a unique experience because the theater is relatively small — just 2,000 seats — and the stage feels very close and intimate.

Ryman Auditorium as a Concert Venue

Despite its connections to country music, everyone from actors to U.S. Presidents to ballerinas have graced the stage of the Ryman over the years. I saw concert posters for Louis Armstrong, Bruce Springsteen, and even Ringo Starr.

Guided and Self-Guided Tours at the Ryman Auditorium

There’s a little bit of history for all in this unique building. I took the self-guided tour, but you can pay extra for the guided backstage tour, which takes you back into the dressing rooms. The self-guided tour was still worth it.

The tour started with a unique and immersive video that tells the history of the building. After watching the video, you can wander around the theater to see various historical displays and get a complimentary picture taken on the stage.

I went by myself, so I took my time reading all the displays. I like history and music, so it was really cool for me. I’m not sure my kids would have been quite as interested, but even they would have probably enjoyed seeing some of the unique costumes and other historic memorabilia on display.

Experience the Professional Recording Booth

While you’re there you can head into the professional recording both and record a song. You can record either a classic song or an original composition. The 15-minute sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis, so you’ll want to get in line as soon as you arrive. You’ll have to pay $15 for the recording. I opted not to do it, but it looked fun. I kind of wish I’d channeled my inner Willie Nelson and busted out “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”

While you’re in Nashville, also check out the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum, and munch on some fried okra or fried pickles while listening to live music at the NashHouse Southern Spoon and Saloon.

The Details

Address: 116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219

Cost: The self-guided tour can be booked online. Adults are $24.95 and children are $16.95 (ages 2-11). The guided backstage tour is an additional $10 per ticket. Concerts at the Ryman are an additional charge and vary by event.

Hours: Tours are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Cafe Lula and the gift shop are open until 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively.

Website: https://www.ryman.com/

Phone: (615) 889-3060 (for ticketing information)

Disclosure: I received one complimentary admissions to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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