The Nashville Nine

An Annual Spotlight on At-Risk Sites

Since 2009, The Nashville Nine has been one of Nashville’s most visible preservation tools: an annual list of historic local properties that are endangered or threatened by demolition, neglect, or inappropriate development. Compiled through a public nomination process, the list highlights buildings, districts, landscapes, and cultural sites that matter to Nashvillians and are at risk of being lost.

Now, through Preserve Nashville, the Nashville Nine list is integrated with broader advocacy, education, and partnership work—connecting at‑risk places to policy discussions, community organizing, and on‑the‑ground preservation tools.

How it Works

Each year’s Nashville Nine shines a spotlight on places that embody Nashville’s architectural, historic, and cultural character—from schools, churches, and homes to recording studios, civic landmarks, and neon signs. The goal is not just to name threatened sites, but to spur conversation, build partnerships, and catalyze action to save the places that make Nashville unique.

Public nominations – Each year, Nashville residents, neighborhood groups, and partners are invited to nominate historic properties across Davidson County that are endangered by demolition, neglect, or inappropriate change.

Community priorities – Nominations reveal the places that matter most to the people of Nashville, surfacing a wide range of sites: homes, schools, churches, commercial blocks, infrastructure, cemeteries, and music venues.

Annual list release – From these nominations, the Nashville Nine list is selected and announced publicly, often alongside media coverage and events that explain why each property matters and what is at stake.

Focused advocacy – Throughout the year, Preserve Nashville focuses advocacy, education, and relationship‑building around these sites—working with property owners, public officials, and community partners to explore solutions.