- If you think you know everything about the state of Graceland, think again…
We all know that Tennessee is a historic southwestern state, and its capital is the music city of Nashville. We also know it as ‘The Volunteer State’ after its long history of men volunteering for military service. But this state of around seven million people has some amazing facts that you probably DIDN’T know. Just for fun, see whether you had ever heard any of these Tennessee stories…
1. Tennessee is landlocked – but home to two unique watery landmarks.
Firstly, a secret lake known as the “Lost Sea,” is located in Sweetwater, Tennessee.
The Lost Sea is part of a larger cave system called Craighead Caverns and is estimated to be around 140 feet (43 meters) deep.
What makes it truly unique is that the underground ocean is filled with crystal-clear water and encompasses an impressive 4.5 acres (1.8 hectares).
Some visitors even enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride to see the diverse marine life that lives in its depths.
Tennessee is also home to another amazing water body. The world’s largest artificial fish habitat is known as Lake Reelfoot.
This unique area of water was created by a series of earthquakes in the Tennessee region in 1811 and 1812.
They caused the land to sink, resulting in a shallow lake spreading across 15,000 acres. It quickly filled with cypress trees – and unique wildlife began flourishing.
The marshy waters of Lake Reelfoot now have exceptional fishing opportunities, particularly catfish and bass.
2. Tennessee is home to the only museum dedicated to tow-trucks in the world
The Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga is a one-of-a-kind museum. It showcases the history, innovation, and stories with a collection of vintage tow-trucks, artefacts, and exhibits.
Its Hall of Fame inductees include tow truck operators, industry leaders, inventors, and innovators.
Chattanooga is a transportation hub due to its strategic location along major highways. This history, coupled with the presence of various towing and recovery companies in the area, made Chattanooga an ideal location.
Most importantly, Ernest Holmes Senior, from Chattanooga, is credited with inventing the tow truck in 1916.
The story goes that Holmes witnessed an accident where a vehicle slid into a ditch and couldn’t be recovered. It sparked an idea for a specialized vehicle capable of recovering wrecked automobiles.
Holmes, a mechanic, and a garage owner, designed and built the first tow truck by modifying a 1913 Cadillac chassis. He mounted a winch and a boom onto it.
His invention revolutionized the recovery industry, making vehicle retrieval faster, safer and more effective. The creation also led to the establishment of the Holmes Company, which became a leading manufacturer of towing equipment.
3. Tennessee is known for its passionate sports culture
The state has a particularly rich tradition of college sports, particularly football and basketball.
The University of Tennessee’s football program, known as the Volunteers or Vols, plays home games at Neyland Stadium, one of the largest college football stadiums in the US.
Similarly, men’s and women’s basketball teams at the University of Tennessee have enjoyed great success, with enthusiastic support.
Tennessee is also home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, based in Nashville, and The Memphis Grizzlies, an NBA team based in Memphis. And the state is a stronghold of motorsports, with the Bristol Motor Speedway hosting NASCAR events on its high-banked concrete oval.
The state’s multiple minor league baseball teams, including the Memphis Redbirds, Nashville Sounds, and Chattanooga Lookouts have devoted fans too. Even Friday night high school football games draw large crowds.
The state is full of sports lovers – and the sportsbooks in Tennessee offer some of the best promos.
4. Tennessee played a significant role in the development of the modern soda industry.
In 1885, a pharmacist named Charles Alderton created a new soft drink formula while working at a drugstore in Waco, Texas. This drink, known as Dr Pepper, gained popularity, and in 1891, the rights to produce and distribute it were sold to a group of investors.
One of these was businessman Sam Houston Prim, from Columbia, Tennessee. He immediately saw the global potential of the local product and established the first Dr Pepper bottling plant outside Texas in 1891 – right in his hometown in Tennessee.
This marked the beginning of the soda’s distribution outside of its birthplace and laid the foundation for Dr Pepper’s future success worldwide.
5. Tennessee has the tallest waterfall in the Eastern United States
Yes the state might be completely land-locked – but explore a little and you’ll find Tennessee’s spectacular Fall Creek Falls. These natural wonders plunge 256 feet (78 meters) into a scenic gorge.
It makes the cascade one of the biggest across all the east of the continent. They are sited within a state park, which spans over 26,000 acres (10,520 hectares) – but had you ever heard of them?
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