The landlocked southern state of Tennessee known for its serene natural beauty also has a rich 'n roll history and a list of achievers across fields. Without the state of Tennessee, the world would have been devoid of Mountain Dew, and cotton candy!
Named after the Yuchi Indian word, 'Tana-see', the word Tennessee translates to 'the meeting place'.
It was in 1769 that Tennessee saw its first settlement when the Commissioner of North Carolina's Washington District setup his cabin on Broone's creek! Later, several families from North Carolina migrated to the state.
The state was nicknamed as the 'Volunteer State', as there were a large number of volunteers from the state during the War of 1812.
During the Civil War, Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union and also the first state to get readmitted once the war is over!
It was on June 1, 1796, that Tennessee was admitted as a state, making it the 16th state in the country!
Tennessee has more than 3800 documented caves!
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the country's most-visited national park!
The capital of the state, Nashville, is known to be the musical capital of the world!
Though Nashville is the capital city of music, Bristol is known to be the birthplace of music. Bluegrass music originated in Bristol.
Nashville also takes pride in hosting the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in the US history. Founded in 1925, this radio broadcast is today a live entertainment phenomenon.
Elvis Presley's home in Memphis, Graceland, is the second most-visited home in the country, after the White House!
Chattanooga features the world's largest freshwater aquarium plus the latest addition of saltwater aquarium!
The country's largest underwater lake, the Lost Sea, is located in Sweetwater, TN.
The Oak Ridge is known to be the Energy capital of the world due to the continuous research on atomic bomb and energy usage, being carried out at the place!
Greenland in Tennessee has the only monument in the country that is dedicated to both the Union and Confederate soldiers!
Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed right outside the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. The motel has now been transformed into an American Civil Rights Museum!
Formed due to the earthquakes that occurred in the winter of 1811-12, the Reelfoot Lake, is known to be the 'Turtle Capital' of the world.
Tennessee proudly owns the world's largest artificial skiing surface (about 5-acre of ski surface) at the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort.
One can find the replica of the famous Greek monument, the Parthenon, at the Nashville Centennial Park.
There's also a seven-story replica of the Eiffel Tower in the city of Paris in Tennessee!
Shelby County has more horses per capita than any other county in the country!
Tennessee hosts the largest music festival in the world, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, that takes place on a 500 acre of farmland!
Mountain Dew, MoonPies and Krystal Hamburgers are all the inventions that belong to Tennessee!
It's illegal to use a lasso to catch a fish, as per a Tennessee law!
The cotton candy machine was invented by a dentist in Nashville! It is believed that the dentist invented the machine along with candymaker John C. Wharton, to generate more cavities that he could treat later!
Justin Timberlake, Davy Crockett, Morgan Freeman, Dolly Parton, Samuel L Jackson, Kathy Bates are a few famous Tennessee natives!