OUR BELOVED CHEEKWOOD

Beneficiary of Swan Ball Auction 2023

With its intact and picturesque vistas, Cheekwood is distinguished as one of the leading Country Place Era estates in the nation. Formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, the extraordinary 1930’s estate, with its 30,000 square foot Mansion and 55 acres of cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum with historic rooms and art galleries, and offers a robust calendar of events and programs to engage our community. The property features 13 distinct gardens, including the Blevins Japanese Garden, Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden, and Bradford Robertson Color Garden, as well as the 1.5-mile

Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail showcasing modern and contemporary sculpture in a woodland setting. Seasonal festivals include Cheekwood in Bloom, Cheekwood Harvest, and Holiday Lights. Art exhibitions change regularly. In 2023, the institution is proud to present Spanning the Atlantic: The Arts & Crafts Movement (America) featuring works from a private collection; Carmen Herrera: Estructuras, a series of boldly colored, geometric outdoor sculptures; and the 10th anniversary of LIGHT: Bruce Munro at Cheekwood, featuring dynamic, immersive light installations unfolding across Cheekwood’s gardens.

Cheekwood offers a selection of free education and outreach programs to engage K-12 students and community groups, ensuring that those without the means have the opportunity to experience the grandeur of this spectacular destination. Multi-cultural celebrations include Holi in the spring, Black Arts Bash in the summer, and Japanese Moon Viewing and El Dia de los Muertos in the fall. Special events such as the “Under the Stars” concert series features talented musicians from Nashville and beyond. With an array of adult education opportunities and wellness programs, Cheekwood is beloved as a site for renewal and rejuvenation amid incomparable beauty. Cheekwood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Its Arboretum, comprised of over 2100 trees, has received Level II Accreditation by Arbnet Arboretum Accreditation Program. Named one of the “12 Most Beautiful Gardens in the American South” by Fodor’s in 2021 and voted three times a USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden, Cheekwood truly is Nashville’s own national treasure.