Some people live history. Others preserve it. And then there are those rare individuals—like David Ewing—who do both.
A ninth-generation Nashvillian and self-proclaimed collector of all things Nashville, Ewing is a walking encyclopedia of the city’s past. In the latest episode of the Circle Back Podcast, he takes us on a journey through time—from Nashville’s earliest Black entrepreneurs to the forces that shaped downtown’s rise (and near fall).
Did You Know?
- Lay’s Potato Chips started in Nashville – A delivery driver turned business owner built a snack empire right here in Music City.
- Black Wall Street once thrived in Nashville – Before urban renewal, Fourth Avenue was home to Black-owned banks, law firms, medical offices, and businesses.
- Jefferson Street’s music scene rivaled Beale Street and Bourbon Street – Until the interstate cut right through its heart in the late 1960s.
- Nashville’s creative boom is at risk – If affordability pushes out artists and entrepreneurs, we could lose what makes this city special.
Nashville has always been a city of dreamers, builders, and risk-takers. But as the city grows, are we preserving the right stories?
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