1. In 1780, the Battle of Kings Mountain took place in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee. This battle was a significant turning point in the American Revolutionary War, as it marked a major victory for American forces over the British.

2. On December 26, 1862, the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou began in Mississippi. Although this battle was not fought in Tennessee, it had a significant impact on the state's history because it was part of the broader campaign to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi. Vicksburg's fall would give the Union control of the entire Mississippi River, which would cut off Tennessee from Confederate forces further south.

3. December 26, 1919, marked the birth of Jack Greene, a country music singer from Maryville, Tennessee. Over the course of his career, Greene released numerous hit songs, including "Statue of a Fool" and "There Goes My Everything."

4. In 1948, the city of Chattanooga experienced a devastating tornado on December 26. Known as the "Boxing Day Tornado," this storm killed 17 people and injured over 400 others. The tornado caused significant damage to the city's infrastructure, homes, and businesses.

5. Finally, December 26, 1985, marked a milestone in Tennessee's nuclear energy history. On this day, the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar nuclear power plant began commercial operation. Located in Rhea County, Tennessee, Watts Bar was the first nuclear power plant to be completed in the United States since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. Today, the plant provides electricity to over 4.5 million people in Tennessee and six neighboring states.