Nashville Notes: Hatch Show Print
For a designer, no trip to Music City would be complete with a visit to this iconic center for graphic arts, in operation since 1879.
This article appears in Issue 46 of CreativePro Magazine.
CreativePro Week 2026 is coming to Nashville, Tennessee, from June 29–July 3, 2026. Each month leading up to the event, we’ll be highlighting unique local attractions and experiences that make Nashville an essential destination for creatives.
Nashville may be known as Music City, but it’s also a vibrant hub for creativity beyond country chords and honky-tonks. For graphic designers and visual artists, one of the city’s most inspiring gems is Hatch Show Print, a working letterpress print shop with roots dating back to 1879. Tucked inside the Country Music Hall of Fame, this iconic studio is a must-visit for anyone with a passion for design, typography, and handmade craft.
Hatch Show Print has been churning out bold, colorful posters for over a century, originally advertising vaudeville acts, circuses, and later, music legends like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Dolly Parton. Today, it continues the tradition using vintage wood type, hand-carved imagery, and time-tested techniques.
Visitors can take a guided tour to watch the presses in action, see the studio’s archive of original blocks, and even create their own letterpress print. The tactile nature of the process, the smell of ink and wood, and the beautiful imperfections of hand-set type are a refreshingly human counterpoint to our digital workflows.
Beyond Hatch Show Print, Nashville bursts with creative energy. The city’s vibrant music scene, indie art galleries, murals, and design-forward boutiques make it a rich environment for inspiration. If you’re looking to soak in the energy of a place where music, art, and culture intersect, look no further than Nashville. And get ready to fall in love with type all over again with a visit to Hatch Show Print.
This article was last modified on August 7, 2025
This article was first published on July 31, 2025
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