Ryman Auditorium, Performance venue in downtown Nashville, United States.
The Ryman Auditorium is a red brick building with white stone trim at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North in downtown Nashville. Its front has pointed-arch windows outlined in white stone and a large Gothic tracery window in a gable; a sign reads "RYMAN" above the entrance. The steep dark gabled roof has small brick pinnacles, and a projecting entrance section has three arches above stone steps.
Thomas Ryman commissioned the building in 1892 as a tabernacle for revival meetings, which later evolved into an entertainment venue. From 1943 to 1974, it housed the Grand Ole Opry radio show, which spread country music across America.
The venue takes its name from its founder and originally served as a place for religious gatherings before becoming a center for country music. Visitors today still see the original church pews where generations of audiences sat while legendary performers took the stage.
The building sits in the city center and offers several guided tours daily, including access to areas behind the stage. Visitors can also walk through the building on their own and explore exhibits at their own pace.
The balcony opened in time for the 1897 gathering of the United Confederate Veterans, whose members paid for it, and was long called the Confederate Gallery. In 2017 that plaque was removed and replaced with one reading "1892 Ryman Auditorium."
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