1. In 1864, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his troops captured Fort Pillow, located on the Mississippi River in West Tennessee. The battle became infamous for the high number of Union soldiers, particularly African Americans, who were killed after surrendering.

2. On February 17, 1897, famed African American singer and civil rights activist Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Anderson performed at many important events throughout her career, including the presidential inaugurations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

3. In 1925, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools. This led to the famous Scopes Monkey Trial the following year, in which high school teacher John T. Scopes was charged with violating the law. The trial attracted national attention and highlighted the ongoing debate between religious fundamentalism and scientific rationalism in American culture.

4. Memphis native and rock n' roll legend Elvis Presley received his first guitar on February 17, 1946, a gift from his mother for his 11th birthday. This gift would launch Presley's lifelong love of music and lead to his eventual rise to fame.

5. On February 17, 1991, the deadliest tornado outbreak in Middle Tennessee history ripped through the region, killing 16 people and injuring over 200. The storm produced 14 tornadoes in total, with the strongest, an F4 tornado, striking the city of Clarksville. The tornado outbreak resulted in over $100 million in damages.