GOOD TROUBLE ON JEFFERSON STREET TOUR

Why “Good Trouble”?
The Good Trouble on Jefferson Street Tour invites you to experience the corridor’s rich
history, culture, and legacy.
About this Event

The guided tour will begin and end at Clark United Methodist Church. Participants will sign-in at the church and board two buses and travel along the corridor to experience the historical significance of North Nashville and learn about the Jefferson Street Corridor Study.

Why “Good Trouble”?

The tour connects important places and stories along Jefferson Street with a conversation about the corridor’s future. As you travel the route, consider how history, transportation, culture, institutions, businesses, and community life intersect along Jefferson Street.

The following is the itinerary:

1 | Clark Memorial United Methodist Church (Start/Finish)

Begin and conclude the tour at one of the most important landmarks of Nashville’s civil rights movement. Learn about the church’s role in desegregation efforts and the Nashville Student Movement, and the influential nonviolence workshops led by James Lawson that helped shape a generation of civil rights leaders, including John Lewis who coined the term “Good Trouble.”

2 | Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Learn about Mt. Zion’s role in the Nashville Student Movement and discover how nearby churches, businesses, and institutions contributed to the life, culture, and evolution of Jefferson Street.

3 | Fisk University

Explore Fisk University’s enduring contributions to education, culture, and civil rights leadership. This stop highlights Fisk Memorial Chapel, influential speakers who addressed generations of students, such as Diane Nash who helped organize the 1960 Silent March.

4 | Creswell and Talley Houses

View two historically and architecturally significant homes associated with Fisk University and leaders in Nashville’s civil rights movement, including longtime Van Vechten Art Gallery curator Pearl Creswell.

5 | Z. Alexander Looby House

Dive into the life and legacy of renowned civil rights attorney Z. Alexander Looby. The 1960 bombing of his home prompted students and community members to organize the Silent March two miles down Jefferson Street to confront Mayor Ben West at city hall, a pivotal moment in Nashville’s civil rights movement.

6 | Jefferson Street Sound Museum

Discover Jefferson Street’s rich musical heritage through stories, artifacts, and exhibits that celebrate the musicians, venues, and cultural institutions that made the corridor a nationally recognized center of Black music and entertainment.

7 | I-40 Gateway to Heritage Plaza

Learn about the history of Jefferson Street and North Nashville through murals and public art while reflecting on how construction of Interstate 40 reshaped the corridor and affected surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural institutions.

8 | Tennessee State University

Find out about the role Tennessee State University students played in the Nashville Student Movement and the Freedom Rides, and reflect on the lasting impact of student activism on civil rights and social change in Nashville and beyond.