While known for the twang of its country music, Nashville is also home to a colorful and salacious past. The earliest settlers to lay claim to the land surrounding Nashville brought with them betrayal, murder and thievery. As the city grew, authorities unsuccessfully attempted to outlaw and remove vice. During the Civil War, the number of "soiled doves" in Nashville forced the army to legalize and regulate prostitution. The death of outspoken politician Edward Carmack triggered the state to outlaw booze for nearly thirty years, but that did not stop alcohol from flowing in the city. One local mayor even bragged about his patronage of saloons. Elizabeth Goetsch dives into Nashville's wicked past and explores some of Music City's more tantalizing history.
Elizabeth K. Goetsch grew up in the military, never spending more than a few years in one location before moving. She came to middle Tennessee for graduate school and has now lived in the area for nearly ten years. After serving as a park ranger, she left the National Park Service and began working for Echoes of Nashville Walking Tours. Uncovering Nashville's unique and complex history became a side effect of working for the walking tour company. Elizabeth received her bachelor's degree in history from New Mexico State University and her master's degree focused in public history from Middle Tennessee State University.