History:
The history and origin of Cheekwood are intimately interwoven with the growth of Nashville, the Maxwell House coffee brand and the Cheeks, one of the city's early entrepreneurial families.

Christopher T. Cheek moved to Nashville in the 1880's and founded a wholesale grocery business. His son, Leslie Cheek joined him as a partner.

In 1896, Leslie Cheek married Mabel Wood of Clarksville, Tennessee. Their son, Leslie, Jr. was born in 1908 and their daughter, Huldah, in 1915. By that year, Leslie Cheek was president of the family firm.


Within its 55 acres, Cheekwood is a complex institution rich with history, beautiful gardens and fine art. The Botanical Garden showcases fine horticultural collections, acclaimed for their diversity and quality. The Museum of Art presents American and European art and is recognized as a center for contemporary art in the Southeast. These collections reside in one of the grandest estates in Nashville, the former Cheek residence. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion and the original boxwood gardens are an amazing work of architecture and design and the ideal setting for the gardens and art museum.

We offer four self-guided tours lasting about one hour each. If you do all four, these routes will lead you around the entire property.