On May 10, 1885 Nashville riverboat Captain Thomas Green Ryman is converted by southern evangelist Samuel Porter Jones and decides to build a tabernacle to serve the city's revivals. This was the beginning of one Nashville’s most favorite landmarks. By 1892 the Union Gospel Tabernacle is completed. One of the last steps was the installation of the pews, these same pews remain to this day. The original seating capacity of the church was 3,755 persons. On June 22, 1897 The Confederate Gallery is constructed for the Confederate Veterans Association reunion, increasing the seating capacity of the auditorium to 6,000. on September 1901 the stage is constructed at a cost of $750. On December 23 1904 Captain Thomas Ryman dies. At his funeral ceremony, the Rev. Samuel Jones takes a vote to rename the tabernacle the Ryman Auditorium. He receives a standing ovation response from the audience. Thus the Ryman was officially named and began its career as a magnet for the famous and influential,. Including President Teddy Roosevelt who lectures from the Ryman stage on October 23, 1907.
On June 5, 1943 The Grand Ole Opry moves to the Ryman. Here the Ryman began its journey to become the Mother Church of Country Music. On October 2, 1954 Elvis Presley appears on the Grand Ole Opry, shocking the audience with his unique style. Until finally on July 23, 1973 Jeanne Pruett is the last person to become an Opry member on the Ryman stage. March 1974 The Grand Ole Opry leaves the Ryman for the Opry House at Opryland USA, the only house built specifically for the Grand Ole Opry show. But fate would not hold the Ryman back. Nashville's 'Mother Church of Country Music' re-opened in June 1994 as a premier performance hall and museum. In 1999 The Grand Ole Opry returns to the Ryman stage for the first time in 25 years. The Ryman Auditorium is declared a National Historic Landmark on June 25th 2001.
February 6 2001 Brad Paisley is the first person inducted into the Grand Ole Opry from the Ryman stage since 1973. August 2 2003 Lisa Marie Presley makes her debut on the Ryman stage, 49 years after her father, Elvis Presley debuted on The Grand Ole Opry.
February 2004
Ryman Auditorium named ‘Theatre of the Year’ at the 15th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards in Hollywood. The Ryman Auditorium is the oldest and smallest venue ever to receive this influential award. It has been said that the Ryman Auditorium has the second best acoustics at a national venue in the US rivaled only by Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

3d drawing is 90% accurate. I did not include all of the windows and did not complete some of the more ornate soffit work. I also did not show the side windows as stained glass as they really are. Please excuse these small oversights.

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