1. On April 13, 1861, Fort Pillow in Tennessee was surrendered to the Confederates. This surrender allowed the Confederates to gain control of the Mississippi River and launch attacks against Union-held territories.

2. Civil rights activist James Lawson was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on April 13, 1928. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1958 where he began organizing sit-ins and other nonviolent protests in the fight for racial equality.

3. On April 13, 1984, country music legend Johnny Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Cash, who was born in Arkansas, spent much of his career in Nashville recording at the famous Sun Records and performing at the Grand Ole Opry.

4. The Memphis Zoo officially opened its doors on April 13, 1906. The zoo is now home to over 4,500 animals and is one of the top tourist attractions in Tennessee.

5. Vanderbilt University was established on April 13, 1873. The school, located in Nashville, is a top-tier research institution and is known for its medical and engineering programs.