Tennessee is a large state in the south-eastern United States. It’s known for its music and culture, as well as being home to many caves and rivers. However, there are facts about Tennessee that you might not know! This blog post will give you facts about Tennessee that not many people are familiar with.
Tennessee earned its nickname as, “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812
Tennessee is a state full of die-hard Volunteers who fought for the country. The nickname, “the Volunteer State,” was given to Tennessee after sending 1,500 volunteer soldiers to fight in defense during the Battle at New Orleans in 1812. The answer lies in the long and honorable history of self-sacrifice, courage, and patriotism of its citizens.
Nashville isn’t the birthplace of country music
It’s no surprise that the country music capital, Nashville is home to many stars and it’s known to be Music City. But Bristol is actually the official birthplace of country music for several important reasons. Find out HERE.
Reelfoot Lake came from shaky beginnings
The lake was formed entirely from a series of earthquakes in 1811-1812. A series of catastrophic earthquakes shook West Tennessee and the rest of the Central Mississippi Valley. Some reports said that the quakes were strong enough to awaken sleepers in Washington, D.C., and allegedly some tremors were felt twelve hundred miles away in Quebec City, Canada.
These days, the 15,000 acres of water in Reelfoot Lake State Park brings visitors from all over the country to explore bald cypress trees and nesting pairs of eagles. The perfect place to go for those who love photography. It’s one-of-a-kind!
Martin Luther King, Jr. took his last breath at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy is an inspiration that will never die. He took his last breath at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where he was assassinated on April 4th 1968 and people all over still come to see what’s left of him there today.
After his death, the motel became a landmark and now is preserved as the American Civil Rights Museum.
Kingston was the state capital for one day, September 21, 1807
This was as a result of a treaty with the Cherokees. In the Tellico Treaty of 1805, the Cherokees requested that the state capital be moved to Kingston, and the state agreed as part of the treaty.
Unfortunately the Indians didn’t stipulate how long they wanted the capital at Kingston. The legislature met there for a few hours on September 21, 1807, making Kingston the capital for one day. They then returned to Knoxville which once again became the capital.
The Knoxville World’s Fair in 1982 hosted 11,127,786 people
We find that to be exceedingly fascinating. The World’s Fair brought people from all over the world to Knoxville to see exciting new inventions, food and international displays. The fair’s theme, “Energy Turns Our World,” debuted many inventions pertaining to energy and its practical applications.
Copper Basin was discovered from space. INSANE.
The three man-made marks on the planet that were visible from space were said to be the Great Wall of China, the pyramids of Egypt, and the Copper Basin (CB) in Tennessee. The Copper Basin in southeastern Tennessee became the site of increasingly extensive and successful reforestation efforts.
In Chattanooga, you will not only find a freshwater aquarium but a newer saltwater aquarium as well. Head out to Tennessee Aquarium with your friends and family. The Tennessee Aquarium is one of the world’s largest freshwater aquariums, and easily Chattanooga’s biggest attraction, contributing more than $115 million to the city’s economy annually.
Home of 10,000 caves
Cumberland Caverns
Tennessee is home to 10,000 caves beneath its mossy hills and flat farmlands. While you cannot enter all of these caves; there are others that offer magnificent and one-for-the-books experiences.
Jack Daniel’s made his fortune in Lynchburg
Lynchburg is in Moore County, the smallest county in Tennessee. Even though it’s home to the Distillery, it’s a dry county and has been ever since Prohibition.
One more fact about Jack Daniel is that he died awfully after kicking his safe and allowing the wound to get infected.
What actually happened was that one morning Jack came into work early and decided to open up the safe for the day, rather than waiting for his nephew to arrive. Legend has it that he became frustrated as he repeatedly got the code wrong, and kicked the safe, breaking his toe. It is said that this injury brought on the blood poisoning that took Jack’s entire leg, and eventually his life.
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