Donelson in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Stringbean Memorial Dogwood Tree

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 1, 2022

1. Stringbean Memorial Dogwood Tree Marker

Inscription. This Dogwood tree was planted at Opryland on November 28, 1973 as a living memorial to one of the Opry's finest comedic banjo players, Dave "Stringbean” Akeman and his wife Estell Akeman. On November 10, 1973, Akeman and Estell tragically lost their lives in a home invasion and burglary. This devastated the Opry community and legions of fans and just a few weeks later this tree was planted in their honor.

Stringbean came from a musical family and got his professional start in the early 1940s when he played banjo for Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys from 1943-1945. Stringbean was also a talented baseball player and he played in the touring team that Monroe traveled with at the time. By the 1950s, Stringbean was a major star at the Grand Ole Opry well known for his spirited, old-time frailing banjo style and signature stage wear. In the 1960s, Stringbean recorded several albums and in 1969 he became a regular cast member on the hit television program "Hee Haw” along with fellow banjo player and close friend Louis Marshall "Grandpa” Jones.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is November 28, 1973.

Location. 36° 12.428′ N, 86° 41.578′ W. Marker is in Nashville

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Donelson. It can be reached from Opryland Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville TN 37214, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Roy Acuff House (here, next to this marker); Cornelia Fort Airport (approx. 1.3 miles away); Belmont Domestic Academy (approx. 1.4 miles away); Two Rivers Mansion (approx. 1½ miles away); The Buchanan-Harding House (approx. 1½ miles away); Stratford High School (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named Two Rivers Mansion (approx. 1.6 miles away); Rock City (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 1, 2022

2. Stringbean Memorial Dogwood Tree Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 876 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.