1. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was created on May 4, 1933, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal. TVA was tasked with providing electricity, flood control, navigation, and economic development in the Tennessee River Valley. It is still a major economic force in the region today.

2. On May 4, 1865, Governor William G. Brownlow of Tennessee issued a proclamation announcing the end of the Civil War in the state. This was significant as Tennessee was the last Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union, and Brownlow's proclamation signaled the official end of the war for the entire state.

3. On May 4, 2010, severe flooding hit Nashville and other parts of middle Tennessee. The flooding caused billions of dollars in damage, displaced thousands of people, and resulted in 26 fatalities. The Nashville community and volunteers from all over the country came together to assist with recovery efforts and rebuild the affected areas.

4. May 4, 1875, marked the founding of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The school started with just one building and 20 students, but it has since grown into a major research university with over 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

5. On May 4, 1927, a group of Tennessee lawmakers approved a bill to make the tulip poplar the official state tree. The tulip poplar is the largest hardwood tree in the Eastern United States and is commonly found in the hills and valleys of Tennessee. Other state symbols include the mockingbird (state bird), the iris (state flower), and the raccoon (state wild animal).