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Programs & Events
Preserve Nashville connects people to the city’s historic places through programs, tours, and events that bring preservation to life. From public convenings to member experiences and annual fundraisers, these offerings invite Nashvillians to learn, engage, and take action for the places they love.
Historic Tours
An HNI original, Preserve Nashville now offers member historic tours that open doors into the city’s past through curated, often behind‑the‑scenes experiences at significant sites across Davidson County. From walking and driving tours that trace the Civil Rights Movement to collaborations with Nashville Sites and local partners, these programs give members a deeper, on‑the‑ground understanding of the places and stories that shaped Nashville.
Preservation Coffee
A PSN original, Preservation Coffee is a recurring morning series that brings people together for candid conversations about Nashville’s most pressing preservation issues. Hosted by Preserve Nashville, these events pair coffee and light bites with facilitated dialogue among city leaders, planning staff, neighborhood voices, and thought leaders in preservation and development. Designed as conversation starters, Preservation Coffee sessions create space to unpack current projects, policies, and pressure points—and to explore how growth and historic preservation can move forward together.
Paint the Town
Paint the Town is Preserve Nashville’s signature annual fundraising event, where history, creativity, and community come together for an unforgettable evening in one of the city’s most compelling historic spaces. Featuring food and drink, live painting, and an art auction of original works inspired by beloved Nashville places, Paint the Town raises critical support for advocacy, education, and hands‑on preservation efforts across Davidson County.
“I'm committed to public history and storytelling—inviting residents and visitors alike to learn about Nashville through historically and culturally significant sites. This type of educational outreach is also a top priority for the Preservation Society of Nashville (PSN). Through joint events and programs with other like-minded organizations, the PSN empowers others to engage and learn about the people and places that define our city and our communities.”
Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel,
Preserve Nashville Board Member; Associate Director and Professor of Global Honors, Belmont University; Director for Nashville Sites, Nashville Historical Foundation