The Parthenon, a replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, was built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals. The Parthenon serves as the city of Nashville's art museum with permanent collection of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits.