Tennessee’s State Capitol: Nashville’s Tribute to Classical Greece
Philadelphia architect and engineer William Strickland (1788–1854) envisioned, and then designed, the circa 1859 Greek Revival building in Nashville that serves as the Tennessee State Capitol. At about 206 feet, the statehouse resembles a white monolith on the top of downtown Nashville's tallest hill. The solid stone foundation of the building is seven-feet thick. The structure was originally constructed entirely of Tennessee-quarried limestone.
The three-story design adheres to the Greek Revival style Ionic order, one of three classical architectural focuses (the other two Doric and Corinthian) defined by mid-sized columns. The columns are adorned with a treatment called egg-and-dart, meaning egg-shaped carved moldings alternating with V-shaped carved moldings.
As is indicative of the 18th-century Greek Revival style, classical shapes, forms, and designs inspired by ancient Greek architecture are all evident throughout the Capitol. Balanced proportions, pediments, wide moldings, and, especially, the columns define this structure.
To make the Tennessee State Capitol building as fire-proof as possible, the design necessitated the use of mostly limestone for exterior and interior walls, as well as the colossal columns.
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