1. On December 15, 1796, Tennessee was officially admitted as the 16th state of the United States. It was the first state to be created from territory under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Many celebrations were held throughout the state to mark the occasion.

2. In 1832, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, arrived in Jackson County, Tennessee, to establish a new Zion. He was later forced to leave the state due to religious persecution and headed west with his followers to establish a new settlement in Utah.

3. On December 15, 1864, Union General William T. Sherman arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, during his march to the sea campaign. He established his headquarters in the city and spent the winter preparing for his next advances against the Confederacy.

4. In 1908, the Tennessee Central Railway opened a new train station in Nashville, Tennessee. The station served as a hub for passengers and freight for several decades and became an important part of the city's transportation network.

5. On December 15, 1978, the movie version of the hit Broadway musical "The Wiz" premiered in theaters. The movie, which was filmed in New York and other locations, featured an all-star cast including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Richard Pryor, and was a critical and commercial success.