Opera Alley, once adjacent to the Nevin Opera House at 321 Broad Street, was donated to the city by M.A. Nevin to provide backstage access for performers, stagehands, and suppliers. Opened in 1880, the opera house was Rome’s main entertainment venue until the early 1900s, hosting everything from local productions to major symphonies from Dresden, Boston, and New York. The opera house was destroyed by fire on December 31, 1919.

The alley’s arch was designed by architect Tom Spector. Today, colorful, nature-inspired art spans along its length; the ally serves as a convenient pedestrian shortcut between Broad Street, the Town Green, and the Forum River Center.