Bristol City Centre and State Street: A Visitor’s Guide

Bristol’s downtown is organized around State Street, with landmarks and side streets branching from the main thoroughfare. The City of Bristol identifies its Downtown Center at 810 State Street, a useful address for orienting yourself on the Tennessee side.

Believe in Bristol’s self-guided walking tour links downtown stops including Cumberland Square Park, the H.P. King Building, Bristol Hotel and Bristol Train Station. The current train station structure dates to 1902; the last passenger train departed in May 1971. For a compact plan that connects central stops, the one-day Bristol itinerary offers another way to organize your time.

State Street is both Bristol’s main downtown thoroughfare and the line between Tennessee and Virginia. A sign spans the street, while brass markers set within the double yellow lines identify the official state line.

As you walk along State Street, look for the markers in the road’s center. The city’s country-music identity is also visible nearby: a 20-foot guitar at the Bristol Chamber commemorates the Chamber of Commerce’s 100-year anniversary and was erected in 2009.

Bristol’s downtown cultural stops connect the city’s musical history with public art and performance venues. Congress recognized Bristol in 1998 as the official “Birthplace of Country Music.”

The Downtown Center’s Country Music Mural commemorates the 1927 Bristol Sessions and was completed in May 1986. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum focuses on those sessions, with interactive exhibits; it opened on August 1, 2014.

For live performances, Paramount Bristol is at 518 State Street. Parking directly in front of the venue on State Street is not guaranteed, so consider other downtown parking locations.

The Paramount Bristol visitor guide covers the venue and its shows.

From Travel Inn Bristol near State Street, head to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum by car in about 4 minutes or on foot in about 30 minutes. Pair the museum visit with the Country Music Mural at the Downtown Center, which commemorates the 1927 Bristol Sessions.

For a visit on foot, State Street provides a clear route into downtown; by car, you can head for one of the downtown parking areas and continue on foot between central stops.

The City of Bristol says on-street parking on State Street and parking areas downtown are free. Many locations have limits of 2–3 hours, and availability can change during special events, so follow posted signs.

Parking locations include the State Street Parking Lot at 826 State Street and Downtown Center/Mural parking at 810 State Street.

Other options include lots on 5th, 6th and 8th streets, Shelby Street and Bank Street, as well as the Railroad Parking Lot at the BRISTOL sign. The city directs visitors to Believe in Bristol for a downtown interactive map and event calendar.

The Downtown Center facility listing gives hours of 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. every day, though those hours do not necessarily apply to every event or service. Before you go, check the official site of the City of Bristol for current parking and facility details. A self-guided walking-tour brochure is available at the Bristol Chamber, 20 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, Tennessee.

What is Bristol known for?

Bristol was recognized by the U.S. Congress as the official “Birthplace of Country Music,” reflecting the city’s connection to the 1927 Bristol Sessions.

Where can you see the state line on State Street?

Look for brass markers within the double yellow lines running through the center of State Street; they identify the Tennessee–Virginia line.

What is the Downtown Center mural about?

The Country Music Mural commemorates the 1927 Bristol Sessions and is located at the Downtown Center.