Work began on the Greek style War Memorial Building and Auditorium in 1921 to honor the state of Tennessee’s military men and women who served our country in World War I. Later, there were additions to honor service personnel of all wars.

The building’s open central portico displays six Doric columns. The central open area is highlighted by a heroic statue to “Victory” standing atop a granite block. This excellent piece of art was done by Nashville sculptress Belle Kinney. A small park is on the south end of the building.

As part of the effort to acquire enough land to build this structure, Tennessee Governor A. H. Roberts at the time had to acquire and demolish a block of elegant old homes in the downtown area, including the first governor’s mansion on Seventh Avenue, North.

The cornerstone of this Greek revival building was laid in 1923. The building was completed and dedicated on September 21, 1925. Nashville architect Edward Dougherty won a national award for his design.

The 2,200-seat auditorium has been used for public meetings as well as great concerts by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and many traveling orchestras and performers. I have seen this auditorium with 2,200 theater or auditorium seats, and I have seen this auditorium arranged with tables and chairs.

The “Grand Ole Opry” performed from this auditorium’s stage weekly from 1939 to 1943. This auditorium was one of only six locations from where the Opry has broadcast.

In 1925, in the beginning, the Opry was broadcast from Studio C in the WSM radio studios located in the National Life and Accident Insurance Company building at the corner of Seventh Avenue North and Union Street. The second location was a theater where the Belcourt Theater now stands. It was first the Hillsboro Theater which showed silent movies beginning in 1925. In 1931, it became the Children’s Theater of Nashville. The “Grand Ole Opry” played there from 1934 until 1936. The theatre took on the name of Nashville Community Playhouse after 1937. In 1966, the theater became the Belcourt Theater.

For those interested, in 1936, the Opry moved to the old Dixie Tabernacle in East Nashville off of Woodland Street. The Opry then moved to the Auditorium in the War Memorial Building where it played from 1939 to 1943. When WSM Radio bought the Ryman Auditorium (built in 1892 to house religious services), the Opry originated from the Ryman from 1943 until 1975. After that, and presently, the Opry’s home is in the Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland (built in 1974).

The outstanding War Memorial Auditorium was part of that path. Since 1925, it is still recognized as one of the fine auditoriums in our area.