Bookable
An Apollonaut travel guide
Moments in a longer story.
Selected milestones in the history of the Ryman Auditorium.
On this page
Tabernacle, concert hall and landmark
These dates describe the place you can learn about here. They are not a company timeline for Apollonaut.
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1885
A revival
Thomas Ryman is converted at a tent revival led by the evangelist Samuel Porter Jones.
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1892
The Union Gospel Tabernacle
The tabernacle designed by Hugh Cathcart Thompson opens in Nashville.
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1897
A balcony
A balcony is added, and a stage follows in 1901.
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1904
The Ryman Auditorium
After Thomas Ryman’s death, the building is renamed in his honour.
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5 June 1943
The Opry arrives
The Grand Ole Opry is first broadcast from the Ryman.
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1971
National Register
The Ryman is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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15 March 1974
The Opry moves on
The Grand Ole Opry plays its last show at the Ryman.
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4 June 1994
Reopened
The restored Ryman reopens for performances.
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2001
National Historic Landmark
The Ryman is designated a National Historic Landmark.
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2015
A larger lobby
An expansion adds lobby space, restrooms and a shop.
Follow the stories behind the dates
A timeline is a beginning. The longer history introduces the people and places; the sources below provide further context.
Read at the source
Sources & further reading
Links lead to the original publishers.
