Today In History
5 Fun Facts About May 15 In Tennessee History
1. In 1800, Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He moved to Tennessee as a young boy and later became the state's military governor during the Civil War. 2. On May 15, 1820, James K. Polk, the 11th President of the...
5 Fun Facts About May 14 In Tennessee History
1. On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, two explorers dispatched by President Thomas Jefferson, reached the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in present-day Kentucky. This marked the beginning of their journey to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a passage to the Pacific...
5 Fun Facts About May 13 In Tennessee History
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...
5 Fun Facts About May 12 In Tennessee History
1. In 1952, General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Memphis, Tennessee as part of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. This event was notable because it marked one of the first times a presidential candidate had actively campaigned in Memphis, which was traditionally considered a Democratic stronghold. 2. On May...
5 Fun Facts About May 11 In Tennessee History
1. In 1846, a major earthquake struck Memphis, Tennessee, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The earthquake registered at a magnitude of 5.1. 2. On May 11, 1929, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was created as a federal agency to oversee the development of the Tennessee River Valley region....
5 Fun Facts About May 10 In Tennessee History
1. On May 10, 1877, Nashville entrepreneur Joel Cheek first brewed "Maxwell House Coffee," which would go on to become one of America's most popular coffee brands. 2. May 10, 1933 was a historic day for Tennessee as Gov. Hill McAlister signed legislation enacting the state's first sales tax, starting...
5 Fun Facts About May 9 In Tennessee History
1. On May 9, 1862, the Battle of Farmington took place in Tennessee during the Civil War. Union troops under General William T. Sherman defeated Confederate troops led by General P.G.T. Beauregard in a one-day battle. 2. On May 9, 1950, the city of Nashville was hit by a tornado...
5 Fun Facts About May 8 In Tennessee History
1. In 1797, Tennessee became the 16th state to join the United States of America. This historical event forever shaped the course of the state and its people. 2. On May 8, 1861, Tennessee became the last state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy during the Civil...
5 Fun Facts About May 7 In Tennessee History
1. Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States on May 7, 1796. The state was created from land acquired in the Treaty of Paris (1783) that ended the American Revolutionary War. 2. The Battle of Thompson's Station occurred on May 7, 1863, during the American Civil War. This...
5 Fun Facts About May 6 In Tennessee History
1. In 1861, Tennessee seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy, becoming the last state to do so. This decision led to the state being the site of numerous battles during the Civil War. 2. On May 6, 1889, the Great Chattanooga Cyclone hit the city of Chattanooga, causing...
5 Fun Facts About May 5 In Tennessee History
1. In 1960, Nashville-born Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics. Rudolph, who overcame polio as a child, won the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay at the Rome games. 2. On May 5, 1862,...
5 Fun Facts About May 4 In Tennessee History
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...