Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
| Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park | |
|---|---|
View of the park from the Tennessee State Capitol | |
| Type | State park, urban park |
| Location | 600 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°10′15″N 86°47′15″W / 36.1707°N 86.7875°W |
| Area | 19 acres (77,000 m2) |
| Opened | June 1, 1996 |
| Operated by | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Open | Year round |
| Website | Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park |
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, commonly known as Bicentennial Mall, is an urban linear landscaped state park in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The park is located on 19 acres (77,000 m2) north-northwest of the Tennessee State Capitol, and highlights the state's history, geography, culture, and musical heritage. Receiving more than 2.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited of Tennessee's 60 state parks.
The park is modeled on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and was first conceptualized in 1989 by former Governor Ned McWherter as part of the planning for the state of Tennessee's bicentennial commemoration. Groundbreaking occurred on June 27, 1994, and the park opened to the public on June 1, 1996, the 200th anniversary of Tennessee's statehood. In 2019 the Tennessee State Museum moved to the northwest corner of the park, followed in 2021 by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which moved to the northeast corner of the park. The incorporation of these entities into the mall complex fulfilled design ideas that were first conceived during initial planning of the park.