Where in the U.S. is the Ryman Auditorium located?

Ryman Auditorium (also known as Grand Ole Opry House and Union Gospel Tabernacle) is a 2,362-seat live-performance venue located at 116 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee. It is best known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974.

The Ryman story starts with an 1885 tent revival led by fiery evangelist Sam Jones and attended by 5,000 people, including prominent Nashville businessman Thomas G. Ryman. He was so unexpectedly moved by the experience that he dedicated his life and fortune to building and constructing the Union Gospel Tabernacle, a place where all people could gather and worship. When Ryman died, its name was changed to honor his legacy. The auditorium opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892.

After debuting in 1925, the local country music radio program known as the 'Grand Ole Opry' (originally called the WSM Barn Dance) became a Nashville institution. 'Grand Ole Opry' was first broadcast from the Ryman on June 5, 1943, and originated there every week for nearly 31 years thereafter. Every show sold out, and hundreds of fans were often turned away. Upon WSM assuming total control of the auditorium, it was renamed the Grand Ole Opry House, although the Ryman name proved difficult to shed after nearly 60 years in use.

The venue hosts alternative rock, bluegrass, blues, country, classical, folk, gospel, jazz, pop, hip hop, and rock concerts, as well as musical theater and stand-up comedy.