Virtual Member Orientation
Updated June 2026
0:00 – Introduction and Agenda
Hello everyone, welcome to our Virtual Membership Orientation. My name is Patrick. I’m a Membership Service Representative here at Cheekwood.
I’m Jenna, also a Membership Service Representative.
During this presentation we will go over Cheekwood’s mission statement and history. We’ll walk through the many benefits of being Members. We’ll explain the process of creating a password and reserving tickets at the Member rate. We’ll talk about utilizing your digital Membership card. We’ll shine a light on some exciting festivals and events that we host throughout the year. We’ll go over gift Memberships. We’ll explain volunteer opportunities and the benefits that come with that. At the end, we’ll include our contact information in case you have any questions.
All of these sections will be time-stamped in case you’d like to skip to a specific topic.
0:45 – Mission Statement
Cheekwood’s mission is to “Celebrate and preserve Cheekwood as an historical landmark where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture nurture the spirit and serve as an inspiration for a diverse and broad audience.”
1:00 – Cheekwood History
Cheekwood’s history began in 1896 when businessman Leslie Cheek married Mabel Wood.
In 1897, Leslie Cheek invested in a wholesale grocery business called Cheek-Neal Coffee which manufactured the world-famous coffee brand Maxwell House Coffee. They sold Maxwell House to a coffee-substitute company called Postum in 1928 and purchased their beautiful piece of property right next to the Warner Parks in West Nashville. They broke ground for the construction of the mansion in 1929 but it wasn’t until 1932 that they were able to move in officially.
The property was passed down to the Cheeks’ daughter Huldah in 1944. She and her husband Walter Sharp eventually donated the land in 1957 and in 1960, the Tennessee Botanical Garden and Fine Arts Center was opened.
Cheekwood is an example of the American Country Place era estate, an architectural movement that ranged between the years 1890-1930. This is when affluent families built extensive residences in rural landscapes to be reminiscent of old European estates that they may have come across during international travels.
Both the interior and exterior of the mansion and the surrounding gardens were designed entirely by prominent landscape architect Bryant Fleming. They had many European and Asian-inspired gardens throughout the grounds, just as we do today.
2:26 – Cheekwood Now
Today, we are a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum. We offer a diverse selection of education programming and workshops, and we have a year-round roster of different cultural festivals, concerts and exhibitions.
2:40 – Gardens
Cheekwood has 13 distinct gardens. These include:
- The Turner Seasons Garden
- The Herb Study Garden
- The Carell Dogwood Garden
- The Burr Terrace Garden
- The Howe Garden
- The Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
- The Rose Study Garden
- The Bradford Robertson Color Garden
- The Blevins Japanese Garden
- The Robinson Family Water Garden
- The Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
- The Wills Perennial Garden
- And the Martin Boxwood Garden
Additionally, the Ann and Monroe Carell Jr Family Sculpture trail is a 1.5-mile wooded trail featuring over a dozen sculptures.
3:16 – The Mansion and Frist Learning Center
The Mansion is the historic home of the Cheek family, and has period rooms restored to how they looked when the Cheeks lived here in the 1930s. It also hosts our art galleries, where we feature Cheekwood’s permanent collection along with temporary exhibitions. In the Museum Shop we offer books, jewelry, and art-related merchandise.
Next to the Mansion is the Frist Learning Center, which houses education rooms for our workshops and summer camps, the historic Stables and Tack Rooms, and Perenn at Cheekwood.
3:47 – Perenn at Cheekwood
Like Jenna mentioned, the eatery that we have on the property is called Perenn at Cheekwood, and it is located in the Frist Learning Center. Their menu is available online, and features Perenn’s signature pastries, cookies, handmade breads and croissants, breakfast sandwiches on house-milled sourdough, hearty salads, and sandwiches, along with a full espresso and tea menu. As Members, you receive a 10% discount.
Please check the Cheekwood website for the cafe’s current hours.
4:17 – Gift Shops
We have two shops on the premises. The first is called the Garden Shop and it is located in Botanic Hall. The second is the Museum Shop which is located on the ground floor of the mansion.
In case you are not able to make it to one of our gift shops during your visit, we also have an online shop available to browse on our website at shop.cheekwood.org.
As a Member, you will also receive a 10% discount both at the in-person shops and the online shop.
4:44 – Member Benefits
Cheekwood Members enjoy a variety of benefits. Members get complimentary general admission to Cheekwood throughout the year, and one free parking pass per visit.
We are part of two reciprocal benefit networks, allowing discounted or free admission to over 345 gardens across the country and over 150 museums in the Southeast.
Members get 10% off purchases at the Gift Shops and Perenn at Cheekwood. Members also receive discounts on special events, classes, and workshops.
Members can access exclusive exhibition previews, Member-Only events, and early purchase periods for special events.
Members get priority registration for our popular children’s camps, and Family level Memberships get discounts on camps.
Members also receive the quarterly Member Newsletter and additional prizes and discounts during Member Appreciation events.
5:36 – Member Account
As a Member of Cheekwood, you will need to create your Member account to log in and receive your Member benefits. This can be done by visiting the Membership page and selecting “FAQs.” At the top of that page, you will see the option for creating your Member account. A link to create your password can also be found in the confirmation email you will receive after your Membership purchase.
You will use your contact information to fill out that form, including your name, phone number, street address, and email. Below contact information, you will see fields for creating your password with password requirements below that. Once that has been created, you will use that to log in going forward to receive your Member benefits on tickets.
Passwords must be reset at least once per year. Once your old password has expired, you will be prompted by our website to update it.
6:25 – Visiting Cheekwood
Cheekwood operates on an advanced timed ticketing system. You’ll select whether you want Gardens Only or Gardens and Mansion tickets. Once you’ve chosen your desired date and arrival time, you’ll be prompted to log in with your email address and password. Then, input the number of adults, youth, infants’ tickets, and parking passes you will need the day you plan to visit. Memberships cover the cost of the first vehicle. Reserving parking is essential since that is the only way to guarantee entry due to our limited capacity. Your Member discounts will be applied on the payment page.
You will then receive your tickets by email. When you arrive to Cheekwood you can either show us those tickets, or give us your name and we can pull up your order.
Please cancel your reservation if you are not able to visit to ensure tickets are available for other Members.
During general admission hours, we can provide a golf cart shuttle from the Admissions building directly to the mansion upon request for guests with mobility needs. We can also provide wheelchairs upon request on a first come first served basis.
Picnics are welcome at Cheekwood, we just ask that you don’t bring any glass containers or outside alcohol. Trash and recycling containers can be found throughout the property.
We also do not allow bicycles, scooters, frisbees, balls, or weapons on our property. Pets are prohibited at Cheekwood except during special events like Dogs and Dogwoods or the Halloween Pooch Party. ADA-certified service animals are of course always welcome.
7:57 – Digital Cards and Reciprocity
Cheekwood utilizes convenient and environmentally-friendly digital Membership cards. You will receive your Membership card via email within 7 days of your Membership purchase. The email will have instructions to help you print, download, or save your card to a digital wallet app like Apple Wallet or Google Pay Wallet.
Cards can be shown in the Gift Shops and Perenn at Cheekwood to get your discount, at the Admissions building to help us look up your Membership, or at participating organizations for reciprocal benefits. Links to participants in our reciprocal networks are on our website.
8:32 – Festivals and Events
Here at Cheekwood, we break down our event calendar of course by the four seasons.
During the spring we have Cheekwood in Bloom, which is one of the best and most popular times of year to visit because of the vibrant and stunning tulips planted in the Color Garden. In April, we host the Great Spring Art Hop, which includes many fun springtime activities like egg hunts and scavenger hunts, children’s entertainment, and various other arts and crafts activities.
In the summer, we host the Under the Stars concert series as well as other temporary exhibits and attractions.
Cheekwood Harvest is during the fall, and it includes the pumpkin houses and the pumpkin patch. We also host an El Día de los Muertos celebration during Cheekwood Harvest, with art vendors, and special musical performances.
Many people look forward to wintertime at Cheekwood, because that is when we host the yearly special event Holiday LIGHTS. With over one million lights sparkling throughout the gardens, festive music, s’mores pits, and more, it is truly an event not to be missed.
9:34 – Annual Programming
In addition to these seasonal events, we also host a wide variety of programs and activities throughout the year. These include world-class art exhibitions, garden and mansion tours, and educational workshops. Thursday Night Out includes live music and food trucks. There are special events such as Dogs and Dogwoods and the Halloween Pooch Party where you are encouraged to bring your dogs for some fun in the gardens. We also have cultural programs such as the Indian Festival of Colors Holi, the Black Arts Bash, and the Japanese Moon Viewing. For kids we have summer camps, and we also have TOTS!, which includes arts and crafts and story times. We also host seasonal Member appreciation events, as well as other musical concerts and programs.
10:19 – Gift Memberships
Cheekwood Memberships make excellent gifts for holidays, birthdays, weddings, housewarmings, or any occasion! Gift Memberships can be purchased on our website, in person, or by calling the Membership Department.
10:33 – Volunteers and Docents
Cheekwood’s operations are enriched by our volunteers and docents, who lead art and garden tours, help care for our gardens, assist with events, and more. Cheekwood offers flexible scheduling for volunteers with both short and long-term assignments in various positions for individuals, families, and groups. Volunteers gain benefits such as discounted Membership, and free admission on the days you are volunteering.
10:59 – Contact
If you have any questions or ever need assistance with your Membership, you can contact the Membership Department at [email protected], 615-353-6984, or through the live chat feature on our website.
11:15 – End
Thank you for being a Cheekwood Member – we’re so excited to have you! Your support helps Cheekwood provide the Nashville community with inspiring art exhibitions, soothing natural environments, valuable educational programs, and unforgettable events. We look forward to seeing you at Cheekwood soon!