Hillsboro-Belmont in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Nashville's First Radio Station

Photographed by Kevin Hoch, February 6, 2012

1. Nashville's First Radio Station Marker

Inscription. June 1922, Boy Scout John H. DeWitt, Jr., started Nashville's first radio station (WDAA) on the Ward-Belmont Campus. Assisted by music teacher G. S. deLuca, he broadcast Enrico Caruso records to the opening of the River and Rail Terminal on the river at Broad Street. DeWitt was WSM radio station's chief engineer, 1932-1942, and president 1947-1968.
Donated by Gaylord Entertainment Company

Erected 1997 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 101.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 36° 8.151′ N, 86° 47.696′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Hillsboro-Belmont. It can be reached from the intersection of Wedgewood Avenue and Magnolia Boulevard. Located on the northwest corner of the Belmont University campus, directly in front of several buildings atop a hill, facing Wedgewood Ave. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nashville TN 37212, 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

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markers are within walking distance of this marker: Belmont Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); Ward-Belmont College (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Wheeler Lawn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Betty Chiles Nixon (approx. ¼ mile away); Edmondson Home Site (approx. ¼ mile away); William Edmondson Studio and Home Site (approx. 0.3 miles away); Schofield's Jump-Off Line (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bradley Recording Studio Hillsboro Village (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed by Kevin Hoch, February 17, 2012

2. Nashville's First Radio Station Marker

View of marker from Wedgewood Avenue

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2012, by Kevin Hoch of Waco, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,219 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 6, 2012, by Kevin Hoch of Waco, Texas. 2. submitted on February 17, 2012, by Kevin Hoch of Waco, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.