1. On May 13, 1861, Tennessee became the last state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy during the American Civil War. This decision was heavily debated, with many Tennesseans being hesitant to leave the United States.

2. Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, fell to Union forces on May 13, 1862, during the Civil War. This was a significant moment in the war, as it gave the Union control of a major city in the South.

3. On May 13, 1917, the deadliest train wreck in Tennessee history occurred in Nashville. Two passenger trains collided, killing 101 people and injuring over 170. This tragedy led to new safety measures for train travel.

4. May 13, 1933, saw the birth of playwright and actor Paul Bailey, who was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Bailey wrote and acted in several plays, including "The Andersonville Trial," which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

5. On May 13, 2010, a massive flood hit Tennessee, causing widespread devastation and leaving 26 people dead. This flood was one of the costliest natural disasters in the state's history, with damage estimates reaching over $2.3 billion.