During your visit to this Nashville, Tennessee attraction visit Cheekwood’s Museum of Art set amid breathtaking botanical gardens. Enjoy a snack or light lunch at Pineapple Room Restaurant. A unique shopping experience awaits you at Cheekwood’s Gift Shop.
Cheekwood Museum of Art
Housed in a 30,000-square foot Georgian-style mansion, the Cheekwood Museum of Art’s collection was donated to Cheekwood by the former Nashville Museum of Art in 1959. The art museum boasts world-class collections of American and Contemporary painting and sculpture, English and American decorative arts and traveling exhibitions as well as silver and the most comprehensive collection of Worcester porcelain in the United States.
Painting & Sculpture
600 paintings and 5,000 prints, drawing and photographs spanning the history of American art make up the Painting and Sculpture Collection. At the core of the collection is “The Eight,” assembled in the 1980’s and early 90’s. Additional highlights of the Museum’s Painting and Sculpture Collection include William Edmondson’s sculptures, photographs of Louise Dahl-Wolfe and a selection of post World War II prints.
Decorative Arts
Worcester porcelain and American silver are at the core of the Cheekwood Museum of Arts’ Decorative Arts Collection. The Worcester collection is comprised of more than 350 pieces and illustrates the historical design progression of the 18th through 20th centuries. The silver collection is made up of 650 pieces and spans from the 18th through 20th centuries and includes some European pieces for comparative purposes. Other holdings in the collection include 27 fine examples of American Art Pottery gifted to Cheekwood by Richard and Molly Schneider. The Cheekwood Mansion itself, with wood and marble floors and the illusionist murals that line the main corridor, is also recognized as part of the Decorative Arts Collection.
Contemporary Art
The Contemporary Art Collection is housed in the estate’s original garage and stables and includes paintings by Larry Rivers, Andy Warhol, Robert Ryman and Red Grooms. Examples of contemporary art can also be found along the Woodland Sculpture Trail including a gateway of water, cloud and fire by Eric Orr; a Native American environment by regional artist Yone Simor; and an underground sky piece by James Turrell.
Cheekwood Botanical Garden
Surrounding the Cheekwood Museum of Art are the original Cheek gardens, designed by Bryant Fleming and featuring pools, fountains, statuary, extensive boxwood plantings and breathtaking views of the rolling Tennessee hills. Highlighted gardens include the Japanese garden, the herb garden, two perennial gardens, the color garden, the water garden and the seasons garden. Additionally, Botanic Hall, the center of the horticultural activities, hosts art and horticultural exhibits, flower shows and houses an exceptional library.
Japanese Garden, Shomu-en
Enter into a place of quiet and mediation. In Cheekwood’s Japanese Garden you can stroll along a winding path that will lead you into a dark bamboo forest. Make your way through a gate into a grassy courtyard home to ginkgos, maples and a carved basin that collects water from a bamboo pipe in a rock basin. Climb the courtyard’s steps to the pavilion. From the pavilion you can marvel at a body of water with an island at its center surrounded by stunted pines.
Herb Study Garden
An eclectic mix of herbal plants grown in Middle Tennessee can be found in the Herb Study Garden. You will discover plants to touch and smell, to use for cooking, fragrance, dyes, fibers and cosmetics.
Wills Perennial Garden
The Wills Perennial Garden is dedicated to iris breeder and author, Jesse Wills. Within the Wills Perennial Garden both new and traditional perennials as well as many bearded irises are displayed. The garden reaches its height in the summer when the succession of color culminates with asters, salvias, sunflowers, rudbeckias and ornamental grasses.
Burr Terrace Garden
Installed in 1972 in the memory of Elizabeth Parkes Burr, Burr Terrace Garden is reflective of a garden in Padua, Italy. Explore the enclosed cottage garden on three levels featuring pastel-colored perennials, an armillary bed and a fountain.
Robertson Ellis Color Garden
Follow the crepe myrtles that lead into the Robertson Ellis Color Garden. Colorful annual, perennial and tropical flowers that border the garden’s sloping lawn offer exceptional views of the distant hills. As you wander the garden’s walkway, you will pass under eight curved arches covered with flowering vines. At the end of the path, there is a giant urn planted in the same dramatic style as the garden’s border.
Robinson Family Water Garden
The Robinson Family Water Garden includes three large ponds with hardy water plants and perennials that dot the banks. Be sure to look out for the garden’s fern collection, hellebores, hostas and heucheras.
Turner Seasons Garden
The Turner Seasons Garden concentrates on the seasonal aspects of gardens in Tennessee. Explore the Turner Seasons Garden’s series of garden rooms, each with a decorative rain basin and plant collections of special interest.
Dining at Pineapple Room Restaurant
Enjoy a snack or lunch at Pineapple Room Restaurant. Boasting floor to ceiling picture windows, the Pineapple Room Restaurant overlooks the greenery of Cheekwood’s west lawn offering the perfect setting for a relaxing meal. Featured on the Pineapple Room Restaurant’s menu is a selection of signature soups, sandwiches, salads, hot entrées and delectable desserts.
Shopping in the Gift Shop
Stop by the Gift Shop, located in the same building as the Pineapple Room Restaurant. A collection of garden and museum inspired gifts are available to purchase.
- To make the most out of your visit to Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, take advantage of the many gallery guides and campus maps available from the Visitor’s Services Desk.
- Cheekwood has a shuttle that can transfer you between all buildings. Just ask a member of staff to call the shuttle for you.
- Wheelchairs are available for use in the Museum of Art and Botanic Hall on a first-come, first-served basis.