You may think that you know everything about Tennessee, but we found some crazy neat facts that you probably skimmed over in that middle school history book. Did you know the first miniature golf course was in Tennessee? We’ve got a couple more easter eggs all ready for your perusal. Have fun with the following 20 little-known facts about Tennessee:
- Andrew Johnson: 19th Century Over-Achiever
Cliff / Flickr Not only was Johnson the first president to be impeached, but he also held every single elective office at the local, state and federal level. He served as the governor and military governor of Tennessee before taking the title of Vice President, then President of the United States.
- Home of 3,800 caves
Chris Totsky / Flickr O’ Rocky Top really deserves its name, don’t you think?
- Home of the largest freshwater aquarium
Brent Moore / Flickr In Chattanooga, you will not only find a freshwater aquarium but a newer saltwater aquarium as well.
- Copper Basin’s out of this world fame
Wikipedia / Flickr Scientists have been able to recognize the Copper Basin from space. INSANE.
- Bristol: The REAL birthplace of country music
Sounds Film Festival / Flickr Nashville may be Music City, but Bristol is the official birthplace.
- Birthplace of Davy Crockett
Brent Moore / Flickr Davy Crockett was born near Greeneville, TN. You can visit a replica of the log cabin today.
- Reelfoot Lake came from shaky beginnings - the lake was formed entirely from a series of earthquakes in 1811-1812
Jim Denham / Flickr That’s a pretty neat legacy, don’t you think?
- Martin Luther King, Jr. took his last breath at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis
Brent Moore / Flickr After his death in 1968, the motel became a landmark and now is preserved as the American Civil Rights Museum.
12)The Grand Ole Opry holds the title as the longest radio show in history.
Ron Cogswell / Flickr It is broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings as it has been since 1925.
- Hattie Caraway, the first female senator, was from Tennessee
University of Central Arkansas / Flickr She was born in Bakersville, Tennessee.
- Jack Daniel’s made his fortune in Lynchburg
cookbookman17 / Flickr He died after kicking a safe and allowing the wound to get infected. Ouch.
- Kingston was the state capital for one day, September 21, 1807
Steve / Flickr This was as a result of a treaty with the Cherokees.
- The Knoxville World’s Fair in 1982 hosted 11,127,786 - CRAZY
mondays child / Flickr We find that to be exceedingly fascinating.
- Tennessee earned it’s nickname as, “The Volunteer State” for it’s participation in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812
Sean_Marshall / Flickr The state also deployed more National Guard soldiers during than Gulf War than any other state in the nation.
- The Manhattan Project was based in Oak Ridge, where secret research for the creation of the atomic bomb took place
USGS Landsat / Flickr The city was known as, “The Secret City” or, “Atomic City.” Many of the workers didn’t even realize that they were helping to develop the bomb.
- The first mini-golf course was located in Chattanooga
PawsitiveCandie_N / Flickr It was built as an attraction for the hotel built on Lookout Mountain at the time.
- Tennessee is tied with Missouri for the title as the, “most-bordered state.”
Joel Kramer / Flickr How lovely and neighborly.
- During Teddy Roosevelt’s 1907 visit to TEnnessee, he was served Maxwell House coffee and coined the phrase, “Good ’til the last drop.”
Wesley Fryer / Flickr Coffee fans, unite!
- Reelfoot Lake is considered the, “Turtle Capital of the World.”
ilouque / Flickr This beautiful oasis is precisely where you’d like to get a little turtle watching in.
- The actual word, “Tennessee” comes from the Cherokee Native American word, “Tana-see.” This means, “The Meeting Place.”
Brent Moore / Flickr Fascinating. And a nod back to Native American roots.
Pretty neat, don’t you think? Tennessee is the southern state that for sure get’s your mind whirring. If you know any other neat/weird/cool/surprising Tennessee facts, please let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear.
Cliff / Flickr
Not only was Johnson the first president to be impeached, but he also held every single elective office at the local, state and federal level. He served as the governor and military governor of Tennessee before taking the title of Vice President, then President of the United States.
Chris Totsky / Flickr
O’ Rocky Top really deserves its name, don’t you think?
Brent Moore / Flickr
In Chattanooga, you will not only find a freshwater aquarium but a newer saltwater aquarium as well.
Wikipedia / Flickr
Scientists have been able to recognize the Copper Basin from space. INSANE.
Sounds Film Festival / Flickr
Nashville may be Music City, but Bristol is the official birthplace.
Davy Crockett was born near Greeneville, TN. You can visit a replica of the log cabin today.
Jim Denham / Flickr
That’s a pretty neat legacy, don’t you think?
After his death in 1968, the motel became a landmark and now is preserved as the American Civil Rights Museum.
Ron Cogswell / Flickr
It is broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings as it has been since 1925.
University of Central Arkansas / Flickr
She was born in Bakersville, Tennessee.
cookbookman17 / Flickr
He died after kicking a safe and allowing the wound to get infected. Ouch.
Steve / Flickr
This was as a result of a treaty with the Cherokees.
mondays child / Flickr
We find that to be exceedingly fascinating.
Sean_Marshall / Flickr
The state also deployed more National Guard soldiers during than Gulf War than any other state in the nation.
USGS Landsat / Flickr
The city was known as, “The Secret City” or, “Atomic City.” Many of the workers didn’t even realize that they were helping to develop the bomb.
PawsitiveCandie_N / Flickr
It was built as an attraction for the hotel built on Lookout Mountain at the time.
Joel Kramer / Flickr
How lovely and neighborly.
Wesley Fryer / Flickr
Coffee fans, unite!
ilouque / Flickr
This beautiful oasis is precisely where you’d like to get a little turtle watching in.
Fascinating. And a nod back to Native American roots.
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