Nashville's Fort Negley to Become Open-Air Museum Honoring Black Laborers

The historic fort will be expanded into a 66-acre park with a memorial lawn and educational installations.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Nashville's Fort Negley, built largely by conscripted and formerly enslaved Black laborers during the Civil War, is set to become an open-air museum and memorial honoring their contributions. The $20 million project will expand the park to 66 acres, with a new memorial lawn, contemplative plaza, and educational installations weaving the stories of the fort and the nearby Bass Street community, one of Nashville's earliest and most significant post-war Black neighborhoods that was later demolished.

Why it matters

Fort Negley's history has long been marginalized and misrepresented, with the crucial role of Black laborers often overlooked. This redevelopment effort aims to properly honor their sacrifices and elevate a story that has been "hidden in plain sight" for too long, reconnecting the community to this important part of Nashville's past.

The details

The first phase of the project will include construction of a memorial lawn and plaza, enhancements to the fort itself like accessible paths and a new overlook, and educational installations sharing the stories of Fort Negley and the nearby Bass Street community, one of Nashville's earliest Black neighborhoods that was later demolished. Archeological work will also be conducted to document any artifacts uncovered during construction.

  • Construction at the park will begin in late February 2026.
  • Phase one of the project is already funded by $20 million in capital investments approved in recent years.

The players

Learotha Williams

Davidson County Historian who sees Fort Negley's history as having been marginalized and misrepresented.

Freddie O'Connell

Nashville Mayor who joined the announcement of the project's start.

Terry Vo

Metro Nashville Council member for District 17 who spoke about the legacy of the demolished Bass Street community.

Friends of Fort Negley Park

The community group that partnered with the city on this redevelopment effort.

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What they’re saying

“This is an important day. A day that, as I reflected on the way up here, that I didn't really think I would see.”

— Learotha Williams, Davidson County Historian (The Tennessean)

“It is an honor to be with you here on some of the city's highest ground to elevate a story that's been hidden in plain sight for so long but not hidden from so many who are down here today.”

— Freddie O'Connell, Nashville Mayor (The Tennessean)

“The story of Fort Negley must be told not just as a military story but as a human one. It connects us to the laborers who built this fort, the veterans who settled Bass Street, the families whose names are carried forward today and the generations who refuse to let this history be forgotten.”

— Terry Vo, Metro Nashville Council member (The Tennessean)

What’s next

Archeology work will occur in the Bass Street area prior to construction, and professional archaeologists will be on site throughout the project to monitor activities, minimize impacts on historic resources and document any artifacts or features uncovered.

The takeaway

This redevelopment of Fort Negley into an open-air museum and memorial represents a significant effort by Nashville to properly honor the crucial role of Black laborers in the fort's construction and to elevate a long-marginalized chapter of the city's history, reconnecting the community to this important past.