Tennessee Trivia & Tidbits - Page 8

Looking for Tennessee trivia? Try our list Tennessee little know facts, tidbits and trivia.

In 1886, brothers Alfred and Robert Taylor opposed each other for governor in a race dubbed the “Tennessee War of the Roses,” with Alfred supporters wearing red roses and Robert supporters wearing white roses. Robert eventually was named governor.

first appeared: 6/13/2004

The state’s first stone houses were built by stonemason Seth Smith in the 1790s near Limestone. The 1792 George Gillespie house still stands today.

first appeared: 6/6/2004

In August 1920, legislator Harry Burn cast the deciding vote for passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. Tennessee was the last state needed and Burn, 24, planned to vote “no” until he read his mother’s note telling him to “be a good boy” and vote for ratification.

first appeared: 5/30/2004

The National Bird Dog Museum and Field Trial Hall of Fame in Grand Junction (pop. 301) makes its point with art, photography and memorabilia about the sporting tradition.

first appeared: 5/23/2004

In 1896, Joseph Lodge built a foundry and began manufacturing cast-iron cookware in South Pittsburg (pop. 3,295). Lodge Manufacturing is reportedly the nation’s oldest family-owned cookware company.

first appeared: 5/16/2004

In 1990, Darrell Waltrip, a resident of Frankin (pop. 41,842), became the first NASCAR driver to top the $10 million career-winnings mark.

first appeared: 5/16/2004

The Francis Craig Orchestra entertained Nashvillians at the Hermitage Hotel from 1929 to 1945, reportedly the longest-running hotel musical act ever.

first appeared: 5/9/2004

Dan Evins opened his first Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in 1969 in Lebanon (pop. 20,235) and today his company owns 492 country store restaurants in 41 states.

first appeared: 5/2/2004

Bristol Motor Speedway, known as the World’s Fastest Half Mile, was originally meant to be located in Piney Flats. Due to local opposition, it was moved five miles away to Bristol (pop. 24,821) on what was once a dairy farm.

first appeared: 4/25/2004

Nashville, the state capital, is one of the largest cities in the United States in terms of area at 533 square miles. In comparison, Los Angeles covers 468 square miles.

first appeared: 4/18/2004

The winning design for the new Tennessee quarter was submitted by Shawn Stookey, an art teacher from New Johnsonville (pop. 1,905). The quarter celebrates the state’s musical heritage.

first appeared: 4/11/2004

The Tennessee Walking Horse is the only breed of horse to be named for a state. Hundreds are shown annually at the National Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville (pop. 16,105).

first appeared: 4/4/2004

Anna Mae Bullock was born in Brownsville (pop. 10,748) in 1939. At age 17 she met Ike Turner in St. Louis, began singing with him, and soon changed her name to Tina Turner.

first appeared: 3/28/2004

On Oct. 7, 1916, Cumberland University lost a football game to Georgia Tech by a score of 222 to 0—the worst defeat in collegiate history. The Georgia Tech coach was John Heisman, for whom the Heisman Trophy is named.

first appeared: 3/21/2004

Davy Crockett was not born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, as the 1955 hit song that bears his name suggests. He was born in 1786 on the banks of Nolichucky River in Greene County, where a replica of his log cabin stands today.

first appeared: 3/14/2004

The Memphis Belle, a B-17 Flying Fortress which was the subject of two movies, has been restored and can be seen by the public at the Jim Webb Restoration Center near the Millington Municipal Airport northwest of Memphis.

first appeared: 3/7/2004

Fort Southwest Point in Kingston (pop. 4,552) was first used in 1792 as a stop on the way to Nashville and to help end hostilities with the area Indians. Today, it is the only fort in Tennessee to be rebuilt on its original foundations.

first appeared: 2/29/2004

Bud Ellis is a former art teacher and owner of Horsin’ Around, the world’s only carousel animal carving school, located near Chattanooga.

first appeared: 2/22/2004

Reelfoot Lake, in the state’s northwest corner, provides a journey into unspoiled nature. The lake is home to more than 240 species of birds and 56 fish species.

first appeared: 2/15/2004

Conifer forests similar to those in Canada are found in the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

first appeared: 2/8/2004

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