1. The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro began on December 31, 1862, but the lead-up to the battle started on December 23. This engagement, one of the bloodiest of the Civil War, lasted three days and resulted in a Union victory over Confederate forces.

2. On December 23, 1823, the state government of Tennessee approved a charter for the Tennessee Historical Society. This organization, still active today, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Tennessee and its people.

3. One of Tennessee's most beloved musical icons, Grand Ole Opry member Ernest Tubb, was born in Crisp, Texas on December 23, 1914. Tubb's career spanned several decades and included hits like "Walking the Floor Over You" and "Soldier's Last Letter."

4. A tragic explosion occurred at the Sago Mine in West Virginia on January 2, 2006, but the effects were felt in Tennessee. Twelve of the thirteen miners who died hailed from the Volunteer State, and on December 23 of that year, a memorial service was held in Knoxville to honor their memory.

5. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federal corporation that provides power to the region, was officially established on May 18, 1933. However, work began on the TVA's first hydroelectric dam, Norris Dam, on December 23, 1933. The dam, located on the Clinch River, was completed in 1936 and became an important piece of infrastructure for the TVA's efforts to bring electricity to rural areas.