West Point Class of ’72 – 2019 Mini Reunion

With the Summer behind us, we need to start thinking about the upcoming Mini-Reunion in Nashville. It is scheduled again on our Sunday thru Thursday format so it will begin Sunday, October 6, 2019 thru Thursday, October 10, 2019.

Access the latest information on West Point activities through our portal to WPAOG.

Why Nashville ?

Our mini-reunion committee keeps coming up with great places to visit, and Nashville is no exception. Here are some of the many things this city offers:

Music. This is a biggie. Nashville is not called Music City and the Songwriting Capital of the World for nothing. For example, Davy Crockett played his fiddle here, and Elvis recorded over 300 songs in Nashville. The biggest venues are the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Theater. There are also several smaller clubs where up and coming singers perform (with an occasional visit by famous ones). One recommended to me is The Listening Room but get tickets in advance. Remember, the Nashville music scene has grown over the years to include almost every kind of music, so only the lover of Gregorian Chants will be disappointed.

Food and Drink. From barbeque to hot chicken, or from sweet potato pancakes to ice cream, Nashville has it. Honky Tonk Row on Broadway (close to our hotel) has too many restaurants to list. Of the many possibilities in the city, two restaurants, Husk and Rolf & Daughters, have been recommended to me. While our class oenophiles will lament the lack of quality vineyards in the area, there is the Jack Daniel’s Distillery an hour and a half south of Nashville, and plenty of other moonshine distilleries in Nashville.

History. For starters, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee, so we can visit the State Capitol Building and the Tennessee State Museum. Although born in the Carolinas, Andrew Jackson considered Tennessee his home, and his mansion, Hermitage, is a National Historic Landmark in Nashville. With over 1,000 acres, besides Jackson’s home, it has walking trails and gardens. There’s a lot of music history in Nashville too, such as RCA Studio B, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Johnny Cash Museum. Tennessee was a key area during the Civil War, and two major battles were fought in the vicinity of Nashville: the Battle of Franklin (Nov 1864) and the Battle of Nashville (Dec 1864). Neither is managed by the National Park Service. There is no existing battlefield for the Battle of Nashville (the city has expanded over it), but there is a driving map available from Nashville’s tourist office. The Battle of Franklin, which occurred about a 30-minute drive south of Nashville, also only has a few small remnants, such as the Carter House, which has a small museum about the battle. A little over 30 minutes away from Nashville is the Stones River National Battlefield (Dec 31, 1862), with the well-preserved battlefield administered by the National Park Service. Maybe the most interesting history item in Nashville is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon of Athens. This was built for the Tennessee Centennial in 1879, and we can visit it in Centennial Park. Only in Nashville can you have Pericles and Dolly Parton.

Outdoor Activities. For those who must get their dose of Vitamin N (Nature), there are many options. Two contiguous parks called the Warner Parks are only 9 miles from downtown Nashville, where there is hiking, biking, horseback riding, and a nature center. About 20 minutes from Nashville is Percy Priest Reservoir and a large lake with marinas and fishing. The Cumberland River runs through Nashville, and we’re looking at opportunities for “downtown” kayaking. The Natchez Trace National Parkway begins just north of Nashville, so anyone with a car can drive along the scenic sections nearby.

Shopping and Art. There are shopping malls in various parts of the city, and there are other interesting options, such as Hatch Show Print, with an old printing press, or vintage record shops (Third Man Records and Ernest Tubb Record Shop). If you’ve always wanted an old guitar or a genuine pair of country western boots, this is the place to be. There are numerous art galleries, and the Frist Art Museum is the city’s number one art museum.

Activities and tours:
Learn more

Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Downtown / Convention Center

305 Korean Veterans Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37201, TN 37201

Phone: 888-444-6664

info@westpoint72.com

Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed

West Point Class of 72

Proud and True 72