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

Edwin W. Craig

(1893-1969)

Photographed by William Robertson, March 21, 2017

1. Edwin W. Craig Marker

Inscription. Nashville insurance executive Edwin W. Craig launched radio station WSM on October 5, 1925 and made plans for a radio program called the “Barn Dance,” which first aired on November 28, 1925. WSM program director George D. Hay renamed the “Barn Dance” the “Grand Ole Opry” on December 10, 1927. Until October 1934, the Grand Ole Opry was performed and broadcast here in the National Life and Accident Insurance office building that once stood on this site.

Erected 2017 by William Robertson, Margaret Ann Robinson, E.W. "Bud" Wendell. (Marker Number 3 A 230.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications • Entertainment • Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is November 28, 1925.

Location. 36° 9.873′ N, 86° 47.057′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in North Capitol. It is on Seventh Avenue North just north of Union Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville TN 37219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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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 walking distance of this marker: Tennessee Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Mrs. John Hill Eakin - Mrs. Robert F. Weakley (within shouting distance of this marker); Lest We Forget: The Middle Passage (within shouting distance of this marker); Sam Davis of Tennessee (within shouting distance of this marker); Tennessee State Capitol (within shouting distance of this marker); Motlow Tunnel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The USS Nashville (CL-43) (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Tennessee State Capitol (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

More about this marker. From November 28, 1925 until October 1934, the Barn

Sanborn Map of Seventh Avenue N. and Union Avenue in Nashville image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Robertson, March 1, 2017

2. Sanborn Map of Seventh Avenue N. and Union Avenue in Nashville

Headquarters of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company from the 1920s through the early 1970s.

Dance (later named The Grand Ole Opry) was performed and broadcast in the National Life and Accident Insurance Company office building that once stood on this site.

Additional keywords. George D. Hay, Grand Ole Opry, WSM Radio, Barn Dance, National Life and Accident Insurance Company

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2025, by William Robertson of Nashville, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 75 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2025, by William Robertson of Nashville, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context • Verification of the geocoordinates • Can you help?