Tennessee became the 16th state of the United States in 1796. The nickname Volunteer State was given to Tennessee during the War of 1812 when 1,500 volunteer soldiers joined General Andrew Jackson in New Orleans to defeat the British. The nickname gained more strength when 30,000 Tennessee soldiers fought at the Alamo in 1846. Today the state’s population is over 6.2 million. Tennessee is made up of three grand divisions: Middle, East, and West, each represented on the state flag with a white star. In Middle Tennessee, Nashville is the capital and the state’s largest city with a population of 670,800. Often referred to as Music City, Nashville is home to the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry is the longest continuous running live radio program in the world. Nashville is known for all genres of music including country, bluegrass, rock ’n’ roll, and the blues, all performed live in Nashville’s downtown honky tonks. In East Tennessee you can climb to the state’s highest point, 6,643 feet, at Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies is the most visited national park in the United States and the only entrance fee free national park in the country. Knoxville is the largest city in East Tennessee and is home to the University of Tennessee. Nearby, the city of Oak Ridge was once known as the “secret city” where the first atomic bomb was built in 1943. Chattanooga is located in the southeastern part of the state where the Tennessee River snakes near the revitalized downtown, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the 13-mile paved Riverwalk. Chattanooga is chockedfull of Civil War history, and the Chattamuaga and Chattanooga National Military Park is the perfect place to explore. Known for its barbecue, the blues, and rock ‘n’ roll music, Memphis is the prominent city in West Tennessee. Key landmarks include Graceland (home of Elvis Presley) and Beale Street where B.B. King once performed. The longest pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi River is located in Memphis, linking downtown Memphis and Arkansas. Trip planning guides to explore Tennessee can be found at TNvacation.com.
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Photo: TN Tourism
Photo: TN Tourism
Photo: TN Tourism
Photo: Memphis Tourism/Kevin Brewer
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