10 Surprising and Lesser-Known Facts About Tennessee
Home to the Country Music Capital: Nashville, Tennessee, is known as the "Music City" and is home to the Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest-running live radio show.
Moonshine History: During the prohibition era, Tennessee played a significant role in moonshine production, with many underground distilleries hidden in the Appalachian Mountains.
Natural Wonder: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located in Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most visited national park in the United States, attracting over 12 million visitors annually.
Saturn's Biggest Fan: Tennessee is the only state to have a full-scale replica of the Saturn V rocket, the same kind used in NASA’s Apollo missions, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.
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Southern Botanical Paradise: The Memphis Botanic Garden, spanning over 96 acres, features more than 31 specialty gardens, including the Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, and Sensory Garden.
Historic Civil Rights Venue: The Lorraine Motel in Memphis is where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. It is now the National Civil Rights Museum, preserving the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.
World's Largest Artificial Satellite: The Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee houses the High Flux Isotope Reactor, which produces more than one-third of all the world's medical isotopes used in cancer treatments.
Home of Coca-Cola's Secret Formula: The vault containing the secret formula for Coca-Cola, one of the world's most famous soft drinks, is located in the World of Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta, Georgia, but it originated in Tennessee.
Bluegrass Birthplace: The birthplace of bluegrass music, Bristol, straddles both Tennessee and Virginia. The famous Bristol Recording Sessions in 1927 led to the discovery of talent like The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.
Historic Landmark: Bell Buckle, a small town in Tennessee, is home to the Webb School, one of the oldest preparatory schools in the South, established in 1870.
Enjoy exploring the hidden treasures of Tennessee!