Tennessee may be known for hot chicken and country music, the best people you ever did meet and the Smoky Mountains, but we bet you don’t have these facts in your statehood arsenal. Even the staunchest Tennesseans find themselves scratching their heads, in awe of all the neat things that were spearheaded by the Volunteer State. How many do YOU know?
- Invented the Typewriter Ribbon
lvv@ldzenl Memphis, 1886. Precisely where George K. Anderson coined the term, “typewriter” and patented the ink ribbon. Years of clicking and clacking and streamlined business-ing followed.
- First Bottled Coke
Wikipedia No one knows where Coke was first bottled. It’s an insanely debated mystery. Chattanooga, technically, was the first ‘franchised’ bottling of coke, after purchasing the rights for $1. We shall take it.
- First Cotton Candy
Wikipedia Nashville gave us cotton candy in 1897 and we shall forever be grateful. First known as, ‘Fairy Floss,’ this sugary treat has become a carnival staple.
- Birthplace of one of the FIRST American Heroes - Davy Crockett
Wikipedia Ah, yes. Tennessee gave the world Davy Crockett, one of the first American heroes who led a legendary life that haunts our history books today.
- First Little Debbie Snack Cakes
Wikipedia McKee Foods was founded in 1934 in lovely Chattanooga. All those sugary, perfect treats that melted in your lunchboxes? They were born from the genius brain of a Tennessee businessman.
- First Miniature Golf Course
Wikipedia Tom Thumb Golf, founded in 1927 Chattanooga, was a tourist ploy that led to first date spots across the country.
- First Moon Pie
akibubblet The early 1900s were good years for Tennessee - Chattanooga blessed the world with the Moon Pie, which was created for local coal miners with a sweet tooth. You can even check out the Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle in early summer, if you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth of your own.
- Birthplace of Country Music
Brent Moore / Flickr We bet you thought we were going to wax on about Nashville, huh? But Bristol is actually the home of country music. All the twang and sad, story songs can trace their roots here.
- First Combination Candy Bar
Brent Moore / Flickr Do you love Twix and Milky Way and Snickers? Well, Nashville in 1912 is precisely where you can trace the combination bar right back. Who knows what you would snack on at the theater, if not for Music City!
- First Self-Service Grocery
Allen / Flickr The Piggly-Wiggly was founded in good ol’ Memphis in 1916, the first grocery store where you could peruse the aisles at your leisure.
How many did YOU know? Let us know in the comments below!
lvv@ldzenl
Memphis, 1886. Precisely where George K. Anderson coined the term, “typewriter” and patented the ink ribbon. Years of clicking and clacking and streamlined business-ing followed.
Wikipedia
No one knows where Coke was first bottled. It’s an insanely debated mystery. Chattanooga, technically, was the first ‘franchised’ bottling of coke, after purchasing the rights for $1. We shall take it.
Wikipedia
Nashville gave us cotton candy in 1897 and we shall forever be grateful. First known as, ‘Fairy Floss,’ this sugary treat has become a carnival staple.
Ah, yes. Tennessee gave the world Davy Crockett, one of the first American heroes who led a legendary life that haunts our history books today.
McKee Foods was founded in 1934 in lovely Chattanooga. All those sugary, perfect treats that melted in your lunchboxes? They were born from the genius brain of a Tennessee businessman.
Tom Thumb Golf, founded in 1927 Chattanooga, was a tourist ploy that led to first date spots across the country.
akibubblet
The early 1900s were good years for Tennessee - Chattanooga blessed the world with the Moon Pie, which was created for local coal miners with a sweet tooth. You can even check out the Moon Pie Festival in Bell Buckle in early summer, if you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth of your own.
Brent Moore / Flickr
We bet you thought we were going to wax on about Nashville, huh? But Bristol is actually the home of country music. All the twang and sad, story songs can trace their roots here.
Do you love Twix and Milky Way and Snickers? Well, Nashville in 1912 is precisely where you can trace the combination bar right back. Who knows what you would snack on at the theater, if not for Music City!
Allen / Flickr
The Piggly-Wiggly was founded in good ol’ Memphis in 1916, the first grocery store where you could peruse the aisles at your leisure.
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