Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ellen Pethel.
Hi Mary Ellen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel first envisioned Nashville Sites, it began as a post-graduate project in 2017—a digital humanities exploration of Nashville’s historical markers. The idea was simple yet ambitious: to connect the city’s physical landmarks to an accessible digital world, where history could live in our hands, our ears, and our neighborhoods.
Two years later, that vision became reality. In 2019, Nashville Sites officially launched with 18 walking and driving tours, crafted in collaboration with local experts, students, and cultural institutions.
Today, Nashville Sites stands as the signature project of the Nashville Historical Foundation, in partnership with the Metro Historical Commission. What began as a digital experiment has become a trusted public resource—where tradition meets technology and every corner of the city has a story to tell.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When we launched in November 2019, we were planning to do a marketing and advertising blitz in Spring 2020. Obviously, the pandemic changed those plans. However, we continue launching tours as we received grant funding, began writing lesson plans, and improving the online tour experience. As a result, the last two years we’ve experienced significant growth–with more than 3,000 users per week. We also worked on creating a sustainable business model, which has included a cultural and student ambassador program and continued applications for grants and financial support from community partners.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
NashvilleSites.org is part of my work at Belmont University, and they serve as a sponsor. However, I am also an educator, historian, and author. My newest book is “Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
“Success is 1% luck and 99% sweat,” At NashvilleSites.org we have put an incredible amount of work into the platform.
Pricing:
- One of the best things about NashvilleSites.org is that it is completely free and accessible. Just go to the website, pick a tour, and have fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nashvillesites.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEfQahixVfa/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ellen-pethel/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/drpethel/
