20 Facts About Tennessee You Never Knew Were True

You may think that you know everything about Tennessee, but we found some crazy neat facts that you probably skimmed over in that middle school history book. Did you know the first miniature golf course was in Tennessee? We've got a couple more easter eggs all ready for your perusal. Have fun with the following 20 little-known facts about Tennessee:

20) Andrew Johnson: 19th Century Over-Achiever

Not only was Johnson the first president to be impeached, but he also held every single elective office at the local, state and federal level. He served as the governor and military governor of Tennessee before taking the title of Vice President, then President of the United States.

19) Home of 3,800 caves

O' Rocky Top really deserves its name, don't you think?

18) Home of the largest freshwater aquarium

In Chattanooga, you will not only find a freshwater aquarium but a newer saltwater aquarium as well.

17) Copper Basin's out of this world fame

Scientists have been able to recognize the Copper Basin from space. INSANE.

16) Bristol: The REAL birthplace of country music

Nashville may be Music City, but Bristol is the official birthplace.

15) Birthplace of Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett was born near Greeneville, TN. You can visit a replica of the log cabin today.

14) Reelfoot Lake came from shaky beginnings - the lake was formed entirely from a series of earthquakes in 1811-1812

That's a pretty neat legacy, don't you think?

13) Martin Luther King, Jr. took his last breath at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis

After his death in 1968, the motel became a landmark and now is preserved as the American Civil Rights Museum.

12)The Grand Ole Opry holds the title as the longest radio show in history.

It is broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings as it has been since 1925.

11) Hattie Caraway, the first female senator, was from Tennessee

She was born in Bakersville, Tennessee.

10) Jack Daniel's made his fortune in Lynchburg

He died after kicking a safe and allowing the wound to get infected. Ouch.

9) Kingston was the state capital for one day, September 21, 1807

This was as a result of a treaty with the Cherokees.

8) The Knoxville World's Fair in 1982 hosted 11,127,786 - CRAZY

We find that to be exceedingly fascinating.

7) Tennessee earned it's nickname as, "The Volunteer State" for it's participation in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812

The state also deployed more National Guard soldiers during than Gulf War than any other state in the nation.

6) The Manhattan Project was based in Oak Ridge, where secret research for the creation of the atomic bomb took place

The city was known as, "The Secret City" or, "Atomic City." Many of the workers didn't even realize that they were helping to develop the bomb.

5) The first mini-golf course was located in Chattanooga

It was built as an attraction for the hotel built on Lookout Mountain at the time.

4) Tennessee is tied with Missouri for the title as the, "most-bordered state."

How lovely and neighborly.

3) During Teddy Roosevelt's 1907 visit to TEnnessee, he was served Maxwell House coffee and coined the phrase, "Good 'til the last drop."

Coffee fans, unite!

2) Reelfoot Lake is considered the, "Turtle Capital of the World."

This beautiful oasis is precisely where you'd like to get a little turtle watching in.

1) The actual word, "Tennessee" comes from the Cherokee Native American word, "Tana-see." This means, "The Meeting Place."

Fascinating. And a nod back to Native American roots.

Pretty neat, don't you think? Tennessee is the southern state that for sure get's your mind whirring. If you know any other neat/weird/cool/surprising Tennessee facts, please let us know in the comments below! We'd love to hear.