Vision
To equip Nashville’s educators and our city with on line historical resources to increase awareness and build community collaboration.
Mission
Collaborate with public and private historical groups to provide:
1. A Nashville History Map using Metro Nashville and Tennessee’s Historic Marker placements.
2. A directory of organizations, topics and speakers to provide easy access to current information.
3. A collection of media (videos, books, podcasts) on the heritage of our region for educators.
Backstory
Way back, before the boom of the internet and smartphones, a man named Lee Larrison had a captivating idea, seeing his city from the sky, as if he was looking at a planet. In 1994 the one-of-kind ariel image was taken in advance of Tennessee’s Bicentennial using a fish-eye lens and celluloid film, prior to digital photography. The view of greater Nashville captures the Cumberland River’s bell curves, roughly a 12 mile radius, nearly 400 square miles.
Within a few years, the internet took off, and Lee Larrison’s interest in looking down at his city from the sky was shared by millions as Google Earth launched in 2005. Though the project never developed as intended, it did generate a significant stockpile of the Planet Nashville poster, a home-grown, photographic feat .
In 2019, teachers received a Planet Nashville poster for Teacher Appreciation Week at Glencliff Entrepreneurial Steam Magnet Elementary School in Nashville. The entrepreneurial story of the poster led to the developmment of a after school history club by a community partner.
The history club was offered virtually, then in-person. The curriculum focused on the Cumberland River basin, the people of the region and how Nashville has become a global city.
Today, students can visit a History Time-Map to see hundreds of historical sites in Nashville, Tennessee and beyond! We are building bridges to add more historic information for our community to access – so everyone can explore year-round!
The original Planet Nashville posters can be order FREE to educators here, while supplies last!! Use the QR code to access this website and interact with the current History Time-Map to fuel great historic discoveries.
Team
The people behind our commitment to local history.
Founder
Linda Nelson
As a long-time volunteer in the Metro Nashville’s School System, Linda has fallen in love with the challenge of galvanizing her local community for the benefit of educators and learners.
Educator
Patricia Moon
As a former Metro Nashville middle school teacher for 32 years, Mrs. Moon has a keen perspective on educating early learners and a wealth of historical knowledge stretching across Tennessee.
Techy
Wes Nelson
With years of product design and marketing experience, Wes helps bring a vision of local history alive through technology.
Personality
Craig Hinkle
As the go-to videographer / producer / personality, “Mr. Hinkle” can appear and make just about anything fun and worthwhile.
Community Collaborators
Dr. Julie Hopkins – Principle of Glencliff Entrepreneurial Steam Magnet Elementary School, opened the door for a Nashville after-school history (NASH) club to form, first virtually and then offered in-person. Her motivated faculty and students aim to change the future through education and the entrepreneurial spirit.
Tracy Harris – Manager at the Fort Negley Museum, a Nashville Metro Park, encouraged the Planet Nashville project as special guest on the Civil War and is a highly appreciated facilitator for Nashville’s historic clubs and communities.