In one photo you see Riverboat Captain Thomas "Tom" Green Ryman (1841 - 1904). He was a successful businessman who built the Union Gospel Tabernacle, which later became a performance hall and Nashville landmark known today as the Ryman Auditorium.
The statue of the man holding a guitar is none other than the famous Little Jimmy Dickens (1920 - 2015). The 4'11" entertainer was known for his bigger than life personality, novelty songs, comedy and his rhinestone-studded outfits.
Unlike the photos here, the Ryman is usually seen with lines of people waiting for tours or to get into the building for a concert. Today (3/19/2020), there were only two people taking photos in front of the building due to COVID-19.
Parking lots and streets around the Ryman were nearly empty.
