May 12: The Ryman Auditorium

The Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974.  

Thomas G. Ryman, a riverboat captain and Nashville businessman, attended a revival be a famed traveling evangelist named Sam Jones. Leged has it Capt. Ryman went to the service Mr. Jones was preaching to disrupt it, but upon hearing the sermon he was converted on the spot and inspired to build a church for the preacher.  Seven years later the Union Gospel Tabernacle was completed.  When Capt. Ryman passed away in 1904 it was renamed.    It became the venue for all sorts of  performances and the acoustics are second only to the Morman Tabernacle. 

Minnie Pearl's real name was Sarah Cannon.  When she and her husband passed away, having no children, they donated all their money for cancer research and established the Cancer Research Institute in Nashville.  An amazing facility.

There are all kinds of costumes and historical memorabilia on display.  

It's amazing how many famous singers and musicians got their start at the Grand Ole Opry.

Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl