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

Edwin W. Craig

(1893-1969)

Photographed by Kayla Harper, July 12, 2026

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° 9.821′ N, 86° 47.026′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Downtown. 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 37243, 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: A different marker also named Edwin W. Craig (here, next to this marker); Women of Tennessee During the War Between the States Commemoration (a few steps from this marker); War Memorial Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); James K. Polk (within shouting distance of this marker); Tennessee Tower (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Votes for Women (about 300 feet away); Purple Heart Medal (about 300 feet away); American Merchant Marine Veterans (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 Dance (later named The Grand Ole Opry) was performed

Photographed by William Robertson, March 21, 2017

2. Edwin W. Craig Marker

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

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

Photographed by William Robertson, March 1, 2017

3. 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.

Photographed by Kayla Harper, July 12, 2026

4. Edwin W. Craig Marker

Photographed by Kayla Harper, July 12, 2026

5. Edwin W. Craig Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2025, by William Robertson of Nashville, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on July 17, 2026, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on July 17, 2026, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2025, by William Robertson of Nashville, Tennessee. 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2026, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.