Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust

The Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust is a bronze sculpture that once displayed in the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville. The work was cast in metal and mounted in a prominent location within the government structure for several decades.

The bust was installed in the Capitol building in 1978 as part of a project sponsored by heritage organizations. It was removed from the building in 2021 and relocated to a museum setting.

The sculpture became a focal point for discussions about how a society chooses to remember or question the figures displayed in its government spaces. People debated whether such monuments help or harm public understanding of the past.

You can view the work at the Tennessee State Museum, where contextual information helps visitors understand its background. Plan your visit to the museum to see where the piece is displayed and what additional resources are available.

The removal required specialized equipment and took place early in the morning to minimize public disruption during the process. This event drew national attention and sparked conversations across the country about how communities handle contested monuments.

Inception: 1978

GPS coordinates: 36.17150,-86.79072

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:46