Fort Negley Visitors Center and Park

Public Notice: Descendant-led Excavation at the Reconstruction-Era Black Civil War Veteran Community at Bass Street, Fort Negley Park

Note: Parts of this document may not be accessible to vision impaired people. If you need assistance with the document please contact Fort Negley at 615-862-8470.

Fort Negley Visitors Center and WPA Stone Gates at Night

The Fort Negley Visitors Center is a historical education and outdoor recreation center of the Nashville Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation. Fort Negley is a place where people and history come together. It is a place to learn that we are a part of history and not apart from it. The visitors center is a resource for exploring the delicate relationship between Nashville and the Federal Government during the Civil War and for learning about the site's relevance in the 20th century and beyond.

Offerings and Services

Interactive exhibits and a 20-minute video covering the building of Fort Negley
Education panels along paved paths for self-guided walking tours
Educated staff and volunteers available to answer questions
Programming for school field trips and scout groups, history and nature education events, tours for scheduled groups, and living history events
A great place to walk and bring a leashed dog
A great view of the city during park hours
Home of the Nashville Civil War Roundtable and Fort Donelson Camp 62, Sons of Union Veterans

Fort Negley Park is in South Nashville two miles from the entertainment, music, and sports venues of Lower Broadway in Downtown Nashville.

Our Mission

It is the mission of the Fort Negley Visitors Center to promote a greater understanding of the social, political, and military forces central to Nashville and Middle Tennessee during the era of sectional conflict in American history.

Core Values

We promote historical education based on facts and primary sources
We offer a variety of quality programs
We employ and cultivate staff dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience
We encourage visitors to continue the search for knowledge
We provide a safe environment for people to learn and discuss

Support the Fort

Interested in joining the Friends of Fort Negley? Email us for more information.

The Friends of Fort Negley Gift Shop, located in the visitors center, offers a variety of Civil War related books and collectibles. All proceeds benefit the site.

Park Hours

The Park is open year round from dawn to dusk for self-guided walking tours. Sites maps are available in the mailbox posted behind the stone gates. Restrooms are available during visitors center hours of operation.