The Parthenon replica and its 42-foot Athena

Nashville's Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, built for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The building houses a 42-foot statue of Athena created by sculptor Alan LeQuire and installed in 1990; the statue is gilded with gold leaf. The Athena is frequently cited in museum and tourism sources as among the largest indoor statues in the Western Hemisphere. The Parthenon operates as an art museum and historic attraction in Centennial Park.