Cheekwood Estate

1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205

Cheekwood Estate is the living memory of the Cheek and Wood families and a quintessential image of 1900s southern estates. The architect, Bryant Fleming, designed the mansions based on the grand 18th century English manors, filled with immense detail and luxury throughout the estate grounds and interiors. In the modern day, Cheekwood Estate is open as an art museum and botanical garden, which includes preserving and showcasing the mansion architecture and grounds.

Leslie Cheek and his wife, Mabel Wood Cheek, built the Cheekwood estate in 1932 after rising into wealth after his family’s business was sold. Two years after the mansion’s completion, Leslie Cheek died, leaving Mabel, their daughter Huldah, and their son Leslie Jr. to maintain the estate. Huldah eventually married Walter Sharp and they lived on the property until 1957, when they offered the mansion and the surrounding 55-acres as a public art museum and botanical garden. The Cheekwood estate opened its doors in 1960 and has remained a prominent attraction through the decades.

The art museum continuously changes its exhibits and also features art displays outside. For current exhibitions, visit here. The botanical garden features more than 15 gardens. For general information on the estate and admission, visit here. As the Cheekwood estate and gardens advertises, beauty does truly live here.