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Downtown Blasting Forces "Rome" Exhibit From Frist

Posted at 5:02 PM, Apr 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-17 22:50:32-04

They say that Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was Nashville but now the city's unprecedented growth has had an unintended consequence for the Frist Art Museum, forcing the early closer of one of their post popular exhibits.

Officials announced on Monday that they will be closing the "Rome: City and Empire" exhibit nearly a month early after the gallery's owners, The British Museum, raised concerns about seismograph readings following blasting and construction in downtown Nashville.

The nearly 200-piece exhibit led the Frist Art Museum to have their most popular March to date. It took nearly ten years to have the pieces brought to Nashville.

"Of course it's difficult. It's disappointing, but we have to be thankful we were able to keep it for two months," said Dr. Susan Edwards, Director and CEO of the museum.

Dr. Edwards says museum curators are constantly monitoring conditions of the historic building. No artifacts or sculptures have been damages, rather the museum decided to make the decision based on an abundance of caution. 

"We feel a tremendous responsibility of being good stewards of this for the future," she added. 

As a result of the early closure on Saturday, officials at the museum are offering free admission to the public on Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.