Discover the Volunteer State: 20 Entertaining and Amazing Fun Facts About Tennessee

1. Andrew Jackson: Tennessee's Original Hero

Step aside, Avengers: the original Tennessee heroes fought battles long before you ever assembled! Under the fearless leadership of General Andrew Jackson – no relation to Samuel L. – Tennessee troops were on a winning streak against the Red Stick faction of the Creek tribe during the Creek War of 1813-1814: This not only secured the Mississippi territory and established Jackson's action-star status, but also led to his victorious presidential run in 1828. Who needs a superhero suit when you've got good old Tennessee grit?
Source => sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com

2. Exclusive BBQ: Invitation to Flavor Town

If you're craving a heapin' helpin' of barbecue bliss, you might be surprised to find out that Tennessee's premier pig-out requires an invitation to tango with the tantalizing tastebuds: The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis is not a food festival, but rather a competitive cooking event where sampling from the teams is limited to invitees or certified judges; but fear not, there are still vendors and add-on experiences for those looking to chow down while soaking in the atmosphere of tent city on the Mississippi riverfront.
Source => memphistravel.com

Did you know the "Carnegie Hall of the South" serenaded legends like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, and was the original home of the iconic Grand Ole Opry? Discover more captivating stories behind Nashville's nightingale! 🎶

=> Fun Facts about Nashville

3. Firewater Suffragettes: Women's Rights & Whiskey

Rumor has it that the bellies of suffragettes in Tennessee were filled with the fiercest firewater brewed by African American heroines, who were anything but "old and sober": Mary Church Terrell, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Nettie Langston Napier embraced women's rights like a fine whiskey and gave everyone a shot at the polling booth. With their spirited efforts and the establishment of the National Association of Colored Women, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, securing voting rights for women across America – quite a toast-worthy achievement, don't you think?
Source => tn.gov

4. Chattanooga: First Electric Southern Charm

Before Tennesseans were belting out "You Light Up My Life," they were busy lighting up their streets – quite literally: Chattanooga, Tennessee was home to the first central electric generating station in the South, which started operating on May 6, 1882, thanks to the innovative minds of five Civil War veterans. The Brush Electric Light Company of Chattanooga continued sparking change until 1887, when it joined forces with another company to form the Chattanooga Electric Light Company.
Source => hmdb.org

5. The Park of Salamander Supremacy

As Tennessee's forests make salamanders boldly go where no salamander has gone before: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee houses an astounding 31 different species of salamanders, making it the world's largest home to these little slimy pioneers. This vast diversity signals the exceptional health and natural beauty of the park's 209,000 hectares, which boasts some of the largest blocks of deciduous, temperate, old-growth forests left in North America.
Source => whc.unesco.org

6. Mountain Dew: From Whiskey Mixer to Soda Sensation

Well, how Dew you do? Turns out, the classic thirst-quencher Mountain Dew was originally concocted to conjure up some hillbilly high spirits before becoming a sought-after soda sensation: In 1940, Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman developed the citrus-flavored soft drink as a mixer for whiskey, owing to the dearth of their preferred mixer. Refining continued until 1961 when William H. "Bill" Jones further transformed the formula, and Pepsi-Cola bought it in 1964. Today, the Dew delights with its cornucopia of flavors and campaigns like the riveting DEWmocracy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Presidential Gatsby: The Hermitage Parties

If the walls of the Hermitage could talk, they'd surely gossip about the wild parties thrown by a certain U.S. president – watch out, Great Gatsby: The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the top historic homes in the state, boasting over 230,000 annual visitors, 30 historic buildings, gorgeous gardens, and unique event venues across its 1,120-acre National Historic Landmark, making it one of the most accurately preserved early presidential homes in the country.
Source => visitmusiccity.com

8. Tennessee Pearls: Mussels in Style

Who would've thought mussels could be so fashionable? Tennessee's got the whole "pearls before swine" thing down to an art: The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm, located in Benton County, is the only pearl farm in North America, crafting stunning freshwater pearls using native mussels and a unique culturing process.
Source => museum.tennesseeriverpearls.com

9. Scopes Trial: Gym Class Monkey Business

Back in the 1920s, Tennessee's public school system was positively ape-shattering: attention was a-buzz with the infamous Scopes “monkey trial” that pit science against religion. In a legal cage match featuring heavyweight lawyers William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, John T. Scopes's conviction for teaching evolution was eventually overturned on a technicality — but not before the trial broadcasted the debate nationwide and immortalized the curious case of the educational gorilla in the room.
Source => mtsu.edu

10. Dancing Hooves: Tennessee Walking Horses

Horses in Tennessee have their own funky dance moves, strutting to the beat of their own four hooves in the most fashion-forward way: The Tennessee Walking Horse, a breed famed for its unique running walk gait, originated from a mix of Standardbred, Morgan, Saddlebred, and American Thoroughbred stock, and is both a pleasure to ride and a sight to behold on trails and in shows, with annual celebrations held in Shelbyville – although recent rules have sought to protect against inhumane practices amidst controversy.
Source => tennesseehistory.org

11. Reconstruction Whiplash in Tennessee

Hold your whiskey and dust off your history books, folks: Tennessee was the only state without an appointed military governor after ratifying the 14th Amendment during Reconstruction, granting citizenship rights to former slaves; but this volunteer spirit hit a sour note as white Tennesseans suppressed black folks causing the state's political competitiveness to sing its swan song by the end of the 19th century.
Source => politico.com

12. Smoky Mountains: Visitor Explosion

In the land of country music and barbecue, where Dolly Parton reigns supreme, there's a Smoky secret that's drawing crowds like a tractor beam on steroids: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has seen a whopping 57% increase in visitation since 2011, reaching over 14.1 million people in 2021! Due to the astounding visitor explosion, park honchos have launched a pilot program to manage the traffic at the ever-so-popular Laurel Falls Trail, which has garnered a ton of high-fives from the forest-adventuring masses.
Source => nps.gov

13. Chief Reelfoot's Earth-Shaking Romance

When love goes rogue and water takes a U-turn: Chief Reelfoot's audacious courtship saw him steal his dream princess, anger the Great Spirit, and bear witness to a furious earthquake that forced the mighty Mississippi River to flow backward in sheer disbelief, birthing Reelfoot Lake - a picturesque paradise where anglers now cast their hearts to snare serenity.
Source => reelfoot.com

14. Elvis Presley: Graceland's Royal Diet

If Elvis' culinary choices were a hit song, it'd likely be titled "Jailhouse Grocery Rock": The King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, Elvis Presley, shelled out a whopping $500 per week on groceries at Graceland, with an eclectic shopping list featuring Pepsi, sauerkraut, banana pudding, shredded coconut, and gum – and just to ensure his dining experience was always fit for a king, he even installed a buzzer beneath his seat to summon help from the kitchen.
Source => people.com

15. Titanic-sized Museums in Tennessee

Ahoy, Titanic enthusiasts! Prepare to set sail on a nostalgic voyage filled with replica staircases, chilling icebergs, and survivor tales that are sure to float your boat: Tennessee boasts not one, but two of the world's largest permanent Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, MO and Pigeon Forge, TN, housing an extensive collection of artifacts and offering interactive experiences for visitors of all ages, thanks to expedition leader and mogul, John Joslyn.
Source => titanicpigeonforge.com

16. Tennessee Flag: Star Choreography

In the land of Elvis and Dolly, even flags crave a little attention with some star-studded choreography: The Tennessee state flag must be flown with its three stars arranged in a specific manner, where none of the star centers are parallel to the sides or ends of the flag but instead are placed at intermediate points, with the highest star closest to the upper confined corner. The U.S. postal service made a stamp-worthy mistake in 1976 by printing the Tennessee flag upside down, but true Tennesseans know that their stars must always dance in the right formation.
Source => volunteertraditions.com

17. Tennessee Aquarium: Aquatic Wonderland

If you thought "Netflix and chill" was the ultimate aquatic experience, think again: The Tennessee Aquarium is home to more than 12,000 animals encompassing almost 800 species, and houses the largest freshwater aquarium in the world, the River Journey building, while also featuring an IMAX 3D theater and a 65-foot catamaran tour boat for explorations through the Tennessee River Gorge.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

18. Chattanooga Chuckle-Choo: Historic Station

All aboard the Chattanooga Chuckle-Choo: Chattanooga's Terminal Station, once a bustling transportation center for nearly 100 years and the muse behind the iconic song "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," now serves as a lively hotel and entertainment complex.
Source => nps.gov

19. Bluegrass Birth: Banjo Revolution

They say a banjo can bring people together, but little did they know it could revolutionize a whole genre: In 1945, the legendary Earl Scruggs stepped onto the Ryman Auditorium stage with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, completing the groundbreaking ensemble that defined the bluegrass sound, featuring Monroe on the mandolin, Scruggs on the banjo, Lester Flatt strumming the guitar, Chubby Wise fiddling away, and Howard Watts rocking the bass.
Source => ryman.com

20. Raccoon Pride: Tennessee's Animal Mascot

If raccoons ever host the Animal Olympics, Tennessee would undoubtedly be their loudest cheer squad, and maybe even their mascot: The Volunteer State proudly features a raccoon front and center in their official state painting, "Tennessee Treasures," created in 1985 by distinguished artist Jack E. Dawson, which celebrates the state's picturesque flora and fauna, drawing admiration and warmth from the people of Tennessee.
Source => statesymbolsusa.org