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Join Cheekwood today and experience the unparalleled beauty of Nashville’s landmark country estate.

Join, Renew or Give the Gift of Membership

“My son’s pumpkin obsession could only be fulfilled with our Cheekwood membership but we are also missing watching the seasons change, and can’t wait to return and see the Children’s Garden.”

– Amy

“We love our Cheekwood membership because it makes it affordable for our large family to visit throughout the year. I love the new children’s garden because of how interactive it is. It provides so much sensory play for my curious crew of littles. It give us so much inspiration and knowledge for our own gardens at home. We are so thankful to have a place like this to visit and look forward to when we can go again.”

– Amber

“It was on this date night at Cheekwood where it ‘clicked’ that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We’ve been members ever since and love taking a break from the rush of life to get out in nature, breathe and take in the beauty of the grounds. Cheekwood is one of Nashville’s greatest treasures.”

– Justin

“Cheekwood membership has been a blessing for my family. My mother and father join me in Nashville for all the new exhibits, and we can’t wait for you to reopen. Your gardens are magical and provide us a sense of calm in the midst of chaos. Thank you for all you do.”

– Savannah

“Cheekwood has been a joy and peaceful refuge for our family for many years. Our children have grown up there, yet we never tire of Cheekwood’s beauty. There is always something new, exciting, fascinating, and gorgeous to explore; we love you Cheekwood!”

– Christy

“My husband & I love having a yearly membership to Cheekwood! Each season of the year Cheekwood has something special & unique & fun that no one else in Nashville can match.  Our favorite season is Christmas with all of Cheekwood’s activities & displays on the grounds of the mansion along with the gorgeous Poinsettia Christmas Tree to top it off!”

– Luann

“I love being a member because of the Tuesday for Tots classes. The women are so sweet and make my child feel so special each week, especially since they remember him and can connect with him. It gives us time to be outside and explore and learn about nature.”

– Maria

“I credit much of my love for gardens and art to spending countless hours at Cheekwood with my grandfather as a child. Cheekwood represents the very best of my beloved Nashville—fine art and cultivated beauty made enthusiastically accessible, even (or perhaps especially) to a toddler who mostly just wanted to feed the ducks. Thanks for 30 years of happy memories.”

– Rachel

“Annabelle and Isaac’s first time seeing the children’s garden! They had so much fun and enjoyed playing cafe in the tea house. Cheekwood is one of their favorite places and we’re so excited for when the gardens reopen. We’ve been watching the virtual blooms and are in awe of all the beautiful tulips!”

– Katye

“Everytime I visit Cheekwood I know it will be magical and help me reconnect to the people I love. From our first date to birthdays my boyfriend and I consider Cheekwood our favorite date location! I can’t wait to experience what summer has to offer.”

– Katherine

“I took these photos of my daughter the day after her school shut down due to the virus, and we had so much fun wandering the grounds and seeing all the flowers starting to bloom. On that day we didn’t realize the grounds would soon close, but now these photos help to remind me that light and beauty will eventually emerge from these difficult times. I love being a member because I know on our next visit to Cheekwood we’ll be able to see a fresh new landscape filled with amazing color and blooms.”

– Sherrie

As a Cheekwood member, your support helps us to deliver on our mission, and keeps our beautiful estate and gardens going throughout the year. Members have the benefit of unlimited access to the grounds, free parking, sneak peek previews of festivals and exhibitions, priority access to special event tickets and reciprocal admission to nearly 200 botanical gardens, arboreta and conservatories nationwide, and over 60 museums in the Southeast.

What else is there to love about being a Cheekwood member? We asked our members to share a photo of their favorite Cheekwood moment!

Cheekwood Names James W. Tottis New VP of Museum Affairs

Cheekwood welcomes James W. Tottis as its new Vice President of Museum Affairs. Tottis comes to Cheekwood having spent 24 years as a curator in the Department of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts. During his tenure, he was responsible for several significant exhibitions _ including _Life’s Pleasures: The Ashcan Artists’ Brush with Leisure, 1895-1925; American Beauty: Paintings and Sculpture from The Detroit Institute of Arts 1770 – 1920; and From Hudson River to Impressionism: American Paintings from the Manoogian Collection. Tottis was also responsible for numerous important acquisitions at the Detroit Institute, some of which were included in the museum’s scholarly bulletin, “Twenty Years of Collecting American Furniture and Decorative Arts 1984-2004 at The Detroit Institute of Arts.”

Tottis who also serves as Adjunct Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs at the Saginaw Art Museum and Chair of the American Painting and Sculpture Vetting Committee for The Winter Antiques Show, has authored and coauthored numerous publications including, “The Guardian Building: Cathedral of Finance” and “Forging a Modern Identity: American Paintings in The Detroit Institute of Arts, Artists born after 1847, volume lll.” He has also served as Director of Collections at the Museum of the City of New York and for nearly 20 years as Adjunct Professor of Humanities at Wayne State University.

A museum consultant, Tottis has lectured widely, giving numerous presentations and panel discussions on American architecture, painting, sculpture, furniture, historic upholstery, frames, silver, art pottery glass and museum studies. He has and continues to serve on boards of arts organizations throughout the United States.

“Cheekwood is very fortunate to have a scholar and curator of Jim’s caliber as we launch new art initiatives to embrace Cheekwood’s role as Nashville’s preeminent fine arts collecting museum,” said Cheekwood’s President and CEO, Jane MacLeod.

In his new role, Tottis will serve on MacLeod’s senior leadership team and oversee all curatorial programs, including the care and enhancement of the Cheekwood Permanent Collection and the historically furnished rooms and galleries in the Cheekwood Mansion, in addition to the Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail.

“This an exciting period at Cheekwood and I am thrilled to join the team assembled by Jane MacLeod.  The opportunity to guide the growth and evolution of the collections is immensely exciting, while also working with all stakeholders to enhance and invigorate the exhibition program,” said Tottis.

Tottis will assume his role as VP of Museum Affairs on March 2nd.

As a historic site known for its serene beauty and romantic charm, Cheekwood is a popular destination for couples. Recognized as one of Nashville’s best places for a wedding reception, the grounds and historic mansion frequently serve as backdrop for weddings, marriage proposals and dates. Love is all around! The beginning of the Cheekwood story is also one of love, dating to the late 19^th century. Leslie Cheek and Mabel Wood, the namesakes and owners of Cheekwood, met on a Nashville-bound train from New York. Their love story is part of Cheekwood’s story, and we are fortunate to have an excerpt from Leslie Cheek, Jr., son of Leslie and Mabel, that provides a tale of two sweethearts destined to find love on a train.

“On a trip back from New York, Mabel Wood made a stop in Guthrie, KY, to see who she knew. There, at Guthrie, Leslie Cheek noticed Mabel and sought out to find her name and destination. He gave the conductor a box of cigars to find out who she was, which failed. Then Leslie met John Clemens, a friend of Mabel, who offered to introduce the two during the trip, but Leslie refused, saying he preferred to have it done at the lady’s house. Several days later, at her home in Clarksville, TN, Mabel watched from the upstairs window of her home as John Clemens and Leslie Cheek approached, and she was pleased with the size, appearance, and youth of Leslie Cheek. Clemens told of Leslie’s interest and of his trip from Nashville just for the occasion; so they went to church together. For eighteen months Leslie sent “Mitchell’s” candy every Tuesday, fruit or a book every Thursday, and flowers every Sunday. On October 3, 1896, Mabel Wood married Leslie Cheek at the Methodist Church in Clarksville, in a dress of ivory satin and with a bouquet of white rose buds and lilies of the valley.”

Paraphrased by Leslie Cheek, Jr. Excerpt from “Notes on the Warfield and Wood Families (Assembled by Leslie Cheek, Jr., April-May, 1982, in Richmond, Virginia)”

Following their nuptials, the new Mr. and Mrs. Cheek settled in Nashville. The family expanded with the birth of their two children, Leslie Jr., and Huldah, as well as many family pets. While Mabel spent much of her time raising the children and planning exotic family trips across the world, Leslie worked for his family company, C.T. Cheek & Sons—the largest wholesale grocery distribution conglomerate in the South East region of the United States. Another local Cheek family company, the Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, was having great success with their signature Maxwell House blend, and so Leslie Cheek later invested in the company. With the sale of Cheek-Neal to Postum in 1928, as an investor, Leslie’s fortune quickly expanded, likely also expanding the plans for what was to become Cheekwood. The rest, as they say, is history.

Baking Holiday Memories with Christie Cookies

Published: 11/19/2019

Cheekwood is set to celebrate its 5^th year of Holiday LIGHTS, as our gardens transform into a dazzling winter wonderland, with Santa and his reindeer, a mile-long path of lights, traditional décor in the Historic Mansion & Museum, family workshops, and more. There’s truly something for everyone to see and enjoy at Cheekwood.

As warm, cozy feelings come with the holiday season, so do the warm, scrumptious treats from Christie Cookies. For over 35 years, Christie Cookies has been baking fresh cookies each day using only premium ingredients, like real butter and pure cane sugar. As a generous in-kind sponsor of Cheekwood programs throughout the year, Christie Cookie helps us bring the magic of the season to life at special events during Holiday LIGHTS.

Cheekwood and Christie Cookies have both served the Nashville and Middle Tennessee community with southern hospitality and seasonal merriment for decades. This year, Cheekwood was voted a “Top 10 Botanical Garden” by USA Today, as well as “Best Local Event/Festival” for Holiday LIGHTS by the Nashville Scene. Voted “Best Cookie in the South” by Southern Living Magazine, Christie Cookies are a mouthwatering testament to their Southern devotion to gourmet ingredients.

If you’re looking for a gourmet gift or treats to serve at your holiday party, Christie Cookies are a guaranteed hit. As a special thank you to Cheekwood members and visitors this winter, Christie Cookies is offering 15% off its products. Simply use promo code CHEEKWOOD15 upon online checkout at www.christiecookies.com.
(Exclusions apply. 15% off Christie Cookies products using “CHEEKWOOD15” at checkout. Online only. Does not include customized logo tins or For A Cause tins. Good for up to $200.)

And, as you consider your shopping this season, be sure to visit our Gift Shop’s Holiday Gift Guide, and Holiday LIGHTS page for for special ticket packages that make the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

 Cheekwood’s Corporate Friends

Cheekwood has partnered with local companies for almost as many years as the institution has been in existence. In 2018, in order to meet the needs of Nashville’s growing business community, Cheekwood launched an enhanced corporate membership program called Corporate Friends. With annual gift levels ranging from $1,500 to $100,000 and higher, this program provides opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership. Businesses may support company initiatives through increased brand awareness, entertainment and employee well-being, while at the same time partnering to present our community with seasonal programs, education programs and special events at Cheekwood. Corporate Friends help preserve Cheekwood as an historical landmark where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit.

Corporate Friends of Cheekwood receive highly visible brand promotion through extensive marketing campaigns, onsite presence and Cheekwood’s social media reach. With art, gardens, history, family programs, special events and more, there is something for everyone to do and see at Cheekwood, and Corporate Friends may take advantage of employee family days, volunteer opportunities, free passes, discounted or complimentary rental space for corporate meetings or events, and more.

Gary Hawkins, Founding Principal of Hawkins Partners, Inc., wrote after a meeting at Cheekwood, “This is a note, on behalf of the entire Hawkins Partners family, of gratitude! We so enjoyed the benefits of having such a beautiful location as the Frist Learning Center to have our firm’s visioning session on Monday afternoon! It was perfect!  The quiet of a cloudy, cool Monday at Cheekwood, immersed in a setting so comfortable and efficiently appointed, gave our team time to reflect on our core values, build new bonds, look to our future and establish an exciting vision to share. That cannot happen without escaping from the demands and distraction in the office for a time.”

Through the Corporate Friends Program, Cheekwood delivers a wide variety of programming that would not be possible otherwise including seasonal festivals, special events and education initiatives.  2019 seasonal festival presenting sponsors include HCA (Cheekwood in Bloom), Vanderbilt Health (Summertime at Cheekwood), FirstBank (Cheekwood Harvest) and Jackson National Life Insurance (Holiday LIGHTS). Each of these festivals provides the opportunity for companies to have their brand highlighted on signage on property as well as in advertisements and promotion of the event in print publications, digital ads, social media, billboards and more. Furthermore, employees and clients are invited to explore the gardens, historic rooms and galleries through employee family days and special events.

SunTrust has been a partner of Cheekwood for over 30 years, sponsoring events such as Spring Art Hop and Summer Stable Party.

“SunTrust has been deeply committed to the Nashville market since 1927, and we understand how the sustainability of not for profit organizations like Cheekwood is dependent on the financial support of corporations and foundations. The longevity of our partnership dates back to the 1980s, and we are proud of all the hard work Cheekwood’s staff and board have provided throughout the years to preserve this local historical landmark,” stated Sabrina Miller, Vice President, Commercial Banking at SunTrust.

In addition to seasonal festivals and events, corporate support provides over $110,000 annually for Cheekwood’s Education and Outreach programs.  This has allowed Cheekwood to provide free access and programs to thousands of students and families annually through free school field trips, free transportation, scholarships for Cheekwood Summer Camp and more.  Furthermore, it has allowed Cheekwood to implement a paid internship program with local college students in the field areas of horticulture, education, marketing, development and more.

“Regions is proud to announce that we are supporting Cheekwood’s TSU Internship Program.  The funds will provide two internships during the Fall 2019 semester for low or moderate-income students.  We were excited to learn of the program and the success that TSU students have had in securing employment in the area of study upon graduation.”  – Latrisha Jemison, Regions Bank, Senior Vice President / Regional Community Development & Partnerships Manager

Deliver one-of-a-kind experiences to your clients, employees and prospects while preserving one of the most iconic cultural institutions in Tennessee. We invite your company to join Cheekwood as a Corporate Friend today!

Cheek Mansion Loggia Restoration

As Cheekwood continues its multiple historic initiatives campaigns to return the rooms of this once private family residence to their original 1930s elegance, the Loggia falls next in line to receive treatment. To much excitement, several 1935 photographs of the Loggia, along with notes written about the expansive room by Leslie Cheek Jr., were recently uncovered. After describing the steps he took to design the original louvered door system for the space, Leslie Jr. also alluded that he personally took on the role of Interior Designer. A note documents that the original decorative color scheme throughout the room was white, yellow and green, and there was “much use of clear and mirrored glass to aid in the effect of coolness.” Unlike the Georgian design found throughout the rest of the house, Leslie Jr. decided that the Loggia should embody “modern 1930s” taste as well as Neoclassical influences to mimic the architectural aesthetic of the room. This time, instead of consulting Europe’s fine antique markets, furnishings were sourced from popular department stores of the era. Decorative lamps and rugs were bought at W. & J. Sloane, a store in New York City which catered to prominent spaces and families, including the White House and the Vanderbilts. Likewise, comfortable Neoclassical and Chippendale influenced iron patio furniture was purchased from no other than, Lord & Taylor.

Over the summer months of 2019, the Loggia is undergoing conservation to restore one of Cheekwood’s most widely beloved spaces. To realize this latest initiative, Cheekwood is contracting with conservators and specialists from EverGreene Architectural Arts and Medallion Pool Company Inc. to ensure the Cheek’s original vision is reestablished. An important and much anticipated component of this project will be the restoration of the eighteenth-century Italianate terracotta fountain. The terracotta will be dismantled and restored off-site in EverGreene’s conservation studio in Washington DC, while a new pump and water monitoring system will be installed so that the water curtain fountain can once again take a place of prominence in the Loggia. Additional repairs will be made to the plaster walls and decorative moldings of this indoor-outdoor living space. The original 1930s paint colors will also be reintroduced as determined from a professional historic paint analysis preformed of the space in 2018. For preservation and functionality purposes, the four sets of grand fifteen-foot exterior doors will be redesigned and replaced. The final component of the project will be the reinstallation of Neoclassical inspired modern furnishings, reminiscent of Leslie Jr.’s design, and live plant material. Upon project completion, guests will be invited to interact and relax in this comforting space to fully enjoy its classical beauty.