The fairgrounds opened in 1891 as Cumberland Park. The Park was built as a harness racing track with a grandstand that seated 7,000 people. In 1904 the harness racing track hosted its first automobile race. Then in 1906 the first Tennessee State Fair was held. Over the years the fairgrounds has been host to nighttime airplane rides, a swimming pool, an amusement park, and stock car races, among other things. In 1965 a fire at the fairgrounds destroyed several buildings (including the Women’s Building pictured here), the grandstands and numerous restaurants.
