Castner-Knott Building, Historic building in Nashville, Tennessee
The Castner-Knott Building is a five-story structure at the corner of Church Street and 7th Avenue North, designed in Classical Revival style with columns and symmetric facade details. It was built in 1906 and later expanded to include an adjacent 1911 building, with interior floors connected in stages during the 1930s through 1950s.
The company was founded in 1898 by Charles Castner and William Knott, moving to this larger building in 1906 as the city expanded. After several renovations including major updates in the 1950s and a 1999 restoration that revealed original details, the store closed in 1996.
This building once served as a gathering place where people came to shop and spend time in the heart of downtown. It represents an era when department stores shaped how people shopped and where they met in their daily lives.
The building is surrounded by restaurants, shops, and cafes within walking distance, making it easy to explore the area. Parking is available nearby in several garages and surface lots, and Church Street Park offers a spot to rest while visiting downtown.
The building played a role in social change during the 1960s, supporting efforts to desegregate lunch counters in Nashville as part of the civil rights movement. This aspect of its history is often overlooked by visitors but shows how a commercial space became a site of real community progress.
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