1. On May 19, 1796, Tennessee was admitted as the 16th state of the United States. The state's capital, Nashville, was chosen as the capital in 1843 after several other cities had been the capital.

2. On May 19, 1862, Union forces led by General William S. Rosecrans fought Confederate forces led by General Braxton Bragg in the Battle of Bridgeport. The battle took place near Bridgeport, Alabama, which was then part of Tennessee.

3. May 19, 1932, is an important date in the history of Tennessee radio. On that day, Nashville radio station WSM broadcast its first episode of the Grand Ole Opry, which quickly became one of the country's most popular radio shows and a symbol of Tennessee's role in country music.

4. May 19, 1978, marks the day of the first performance of the Tennessee State Ballet, a professional dance company based in Nashville. The ballet has since become one of the state's cultural treasures, performing classical and contemporary works to audiences throughout Tennessee and beyond.

5. On May 19, 2004, the State of Tennessee officially recognized the Cherokee Nation as a sovereign entity. The recognition was seen as an important step in honoring the Cherokee's historical presence and contributions to the state, as well as a step towards reconciliation after centuries of conflict and displacement.