Situated on a beautiful 55-acre property, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art is truly one of Tennessee’s treasures. Mrs. Mabel Cheek, formerly Wood, was the daughter of a prominent Tennessee family. Her name and her husband’s were combined to form the name of their new home, Cheekwood. Mr. Leslie Cheek was the son of the founder of a successful grocery firm. Leslie Cheek, his wife, and their two children lived in Nashville until they moved into Cheekwood in 1932. The site opened to the public in 1960.

The extensive grounds of the property now comprise the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. The grounds change from season to season, offering visitors four distinct “exhibits” annually. A highlight of the grounds is the mile-long Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail. Winding through the natural beauty of the Tennessee woodlands, the trail is home to sculpture from artists around the world, all of the pieces nestled into the landscape. Each work responds to the environment in different ways, and a walk down the path lead not only provides visitors with exercise, but also offers a mini-survey in sculpture.

The Georgian-style mansion, once home to the Cheek family, is now the Museum of Art. The museum has undergone extensive renovation, the result of a $19 million campaign to refurbish the home. Carpets were removed and floors re-finished, new interiors and furnishings were created, and the result is a space more inviting to the public which retains the sense of being a real home. Objects from the collection, which include paintings, porcelain, silver and other pieces are displayed throughout the space. The museum also hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year.

Cheekwood’s Frist Learning Center incorporates the Cheek family’s former garage and stable buildings. In the Learning Center, interactive exhibits provide visitors with new ways to look at art and gardens. Around the Frist Learning Center’s courtyard, art galleries display changing exhibits of contemporary art from Cheekwood’s own collection, works by local and regional artists, and installation art. Cheekwood also offers classes and workshops year-round for all ages in the Learning Center.

The Museum of Art collections offer a diverse selection of pieces. Decorative arts are prominently represented in the collection of silver and porcelains, and also include objects such as snuff bottles and lace. American art is another strength of the collection, with a number of prominent American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries represented.

The Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail

Dedicated in 1999, the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail is named in honor of Monroe Carell, a long-time benefactor of Cheekwood. A diverse group of works by a number of sculptors, both local names and international stars, are installed along the mile-long trail. The collection includes works by Siah Armajani, Yone Sinor, Mary Lucking-Reiley, and several others. The surprising way the pieces are installed, as well as the innovative ways the artists have chosen to address nature through their work, make this a truly astonishing collection.

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (the Gardens remain open until dark), Sundays 11 AM - 4:30 PM, closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, January 8-19, New Year’s Day & the third Saturday in April

Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children 6-17 and college students with ID, free for members and children under 6, ($25 Family Cap and half price admission after 3 PM)

Location: The Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art are located adjacent to the Percy Warner Park, approximately 8 1/2 miles southwest of downtown Nashville.

Contact Information

Cheekwood
1200 Forrest Park Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37205
info@cheekwood.org
(615) 356-8000

Visit their Web site at: http://www.cheekwood.org