Tootsie's Orchid Lounge Rooftop Mural — Nashville

The mural on the back wall of Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville depicts the legendary honky-tonk's connections to country music history, featuring images of the artists who drank, wrote, and performed there over the decades. The alley behind Tootsie's — connecting Broadway to the back door of the Ryman Auditorium — was the secret corridor that Grand Ole Opry performers used to slip across for a drink between sets. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller, and Tom T. Hall all famously hung out at Tootsie's during their lean Nashville years.

Tootsie Bess, the venue's legendary proprietor from 1960 until her death in 1978, was known for lending money to struggling songwriters, feeding them on credit, and occasionally introducing them to music publishers. Kris Kristofferson reportedly worked as a janitor at Columbia Recording Studios nearby while drinking at Tootsie's, where he pitched songs to anyone who would listen. Roger Miller wrote 'Dang Me' on a Tootsie's napkin. The bar's purple-painted exterior (the result of a painting accident) became its trademark.

Tootsie's remains one of Nashville's most popular honky-tonks, open daily with live music on multiple floors. The mural and the famous alley are freely viewable. The bar sits on Lower Broadway in the heart of Nashville's entertainment district, directly behind the Ryman Auditorium. No cover charge during daytime hours.