05/11/2024
It might not be the bona fide royal castle but it does have a major connection to the American “royalty”. ✨
The new 305 feet tall West End Tower is now the tallest Vanderbilt University’s landmark and is one of the tallest structures of Nashville.
You can’t miss it and can’t help but admire. With the significant nod to the Gothic architecture, America’s richest family’s history behind it, it was bound to have some legends born around it. It replaced the Carmichael towers, which have always housed Vandie’s students, and were named in honor of Vanderbilt’s third Chancellor, Oliver C. Carmichael. The original West and East Towers opened between 1966 and 1970. The last students moved out of them in 2019 and 2021. After the new West End tower was completed in 2021, the city’s folklore gladly adopted it with the jokes and rumors of spiral stairs and floating candelabras, spooky bell tower and a replica of the Gryffindor Common room at the top floor…😏🤓
I have never been inside yet but after poking around the internet, found out some fun facts instead.
Though the tower’s last - 20th floor - houses just some boring mechanical equipment, the floor right below it is nothing short of magical and a real eye candy. It is a conference room but that’s where its banality ends. Wood-paneled walls, vaulted ceilings, with stylized star constellations painted on them, windows nearly in every direction flooding the room with light and marvel of the Birds Eye views of my beloved city.
One day I dream of getting inside it in person. But for now I just pour my inspired dream onto the canvas with one of my favorite lanterns from the Centennial park.
Come see it at the Art show at the Picture This Creative Framing and Gallery On Thursday, May 16th 4-7 pm.🎨🖼️🖌️🏙️✨
