Nashville, Tennessee: Human-Play Polar Bear Statues

They guard the entrance to a retirement home, and are frozen in the middle of a snowball fight.

Snowball Throwing Polar Bears

For years these bears stood in a front yard on Edgehill and both faced traffic. When it snowed, it looked like they were throwing snowballs at passing cars. They have since been moved up the street to a little park in front of a tall apartment building and stand facing each other. Not quite the same. I have been passing them since 1972 and they have been here longer than that.

[B Carter, 06/10/2010]

Snowball-throwing Polar Bears

The fabulous polar bears have moved down the street to the corner of 12th Ave. South and Edgehill. They are permanently installed in front of what appears to be a multi-story retirement home.

At the holidays, they were seen to be sporting a green (artificial) pine garland like scarves. They are now somewhat facing each other as though they are engaged in a snowball fight.

[Marilyn Murphy, 05/06/2007]

Lifesize Polar Bears on front lawn

In regards to the Polar Bear Ice Cream stands in the DC area... Nashville has two large polar bears standing in the front lawn of a home on Edgehill Ave. Could these bears be from the same design? I had heard that the Edgehill bears originally stood in front of an ice house from way back. Perhaps it was actually an ice cream joint? They're big and white and poised to throw a snowball -- each bear has a raised paw. One of the better attractions our town offers, I think... Any clues or recollections would be appreciated.

[meuselini, 02/24/2002]

Snowball-throwing Polar Bears

In the downtown Nashville residental area are three, white, 7-ft tall polar bears with one arm raised throwing a white snowball. I think they are made of plaster and have a history and are in private yards. Sometimes the newspaper reports one "moved" or knocked-over. They really startle drivers and make the children laugh.

[Freddie Martin, 08/23/2001]