McMinnville, Tennessee is a small city in Warren County that has played an important role in American history. From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, McMinnville has been the site of numerous historic events. Here are 7 historical events that have taken place near McMinnville, Tennessee.

1. The Battle of Stones River

The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Battle of Murfreesboro, took place from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, with over 24,000 casualties. McMinnville was used as a hospital town during the battle, and many wounded soldiers were treated here.

2. The Scopes Trial

The Scopes Trial, also known as the Monkey Trial, took place in Dayton, Tennessee, just a few miles from McMinnville. The trial, which took place in 1925, was a landmark case in the history of American education. It centered around a high school teacher who was accused of teaching evolution, which was illegal at the time in Tennessee.

3. The Civil Rights Movement

McMinnville played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the city to speak at the McMinnville Civic Center. This was a year before the Civil Rights Act was passed, and King's visit helped to push for change in the area.

4. The Red Summer

The summer of 1919, known as the Red Summer, was a time of racial unrest and violence across the United States. Lynchings and riots were common, and McMinnville was not immune. In June of that year, a black man was lynched in the nearby town of Sparta, and tensions were high in McMinnville.

5. The Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears, the forced relocation of Native Americans from their ancestral homes in the Southeastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), passed through McMinnville. Thousands of Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, and other Native Americans were forced to make the journey, and many died along the way.

6. The Corpsewood Murders

The Corpsewood Murders were a gruesome double homicide that took place near Summerville, Georgia, just over the state line from McMinnville. The murders occurred in 1982, and were committed by two men who had sought out the isolated home of a gay couple, Dr. Charles Scudder and Joseph Odom.

7. The Nashville Sit-Ins

The Nashville Sit-Ins, a series of nonviolent protests against segregation in public places, began in Nashville in 1960. The sit-ins were eventually successful in desegregating many public institutions, and inspired similar protests across the country. Though the sit-ins did not take place in McMinnville, the protests played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement in the region.

McMinnville, Tennessee has a rich and varied history, with events ranging from the Trail of Tears to the Civil Rights Movement. These events have played an important role in shaping not only the town, but also the United States as a whole. They stand as reminders of the struggles and triumphs of those who have come before us, and of the work that still needs to be done to make our world a better place.