11 Quirky Facts About Tennessee That Sound Fake but Are 100% True

Like most Tennessee natives, we think that our state is the coolest in the entire U.S. Between our history in the music and barbecue scenes to our stunning nature and southern hospitality, it's safe to say there's lots to love about it here—even if you're just a visitor.

But with love for a state often comes plenty of interesting and quirky tidbits picked up along the way. Here are 11 fun facts about Tennessee that sound totally made up, but are 100 percent true, and undoubtedly make the Volunteer State what it is today.

1. We Have the World’s Largest Collection of Salt and Pepper Shakers

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is home to the Museum of Salt & Pepper Shakers, otherwise known as the world's largest collection of salt and pepper shakers. We know, it's a strange thing to be known for, but the museum is actually pretty cool. After viewing the more than 20,000 preserved sets inside, you can swing by the gift shop or the nearby winery for a delicious glass of vino.

2. We Have the Most-Visited National Park in the Country

Well, we share the most-visited national park in the country with our good friends in North Carolina. In 2024 alone, the Great Smoky Mountains had around 12.2 million visitors. The National Park has more than 800 miles of trails to explore, including a 70-mile section of the infamous Appalachian Trail, which attracts dedicated hikers each year.

3. We Have the Shortest Tunnel in the World

Backbone Rock Tunnel isn't just a fun detour on a weekend trip. It's also the shortest tunnel in the world. While the tunnel's stone arch is an impressive 80 feet tall, the length of the tunnel itself is only 20 feet. Visitors usually stop for a photo op or park the car and hike to the top of the tunnel, which boasts a stunning view.

4. We're Tied for the State With the Most Bordering States

We might not be the only state surrounded by eight other states, but we're happy to share this title with Missouri. But just because we're landlocked doesn't mean we don't have beautiful bodies of water—like Radnor and Douglas Lake—to enjoy when the weather is nice. We even have waterfalls (read below).

5. We Have the Tallest Underground Waterfall in the Country

As the country's largest underground waterfall, Ruby Falls is a magnificent natural wonder. Located deep within Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, visitors can take tours to see the falls, which drop from a stunning 145 feet above. This gorgeous destination combines the thrills of cave exploring and waterfall chasing for the ultimate outdoorsy adventure.

6. We Also Have the Largest Underground Lake in the Whole Country

Speaking of caves, our state also has the largest underground lake in the country, called The Lost Sea. Visitors can take a cave tour with Lost Sea Adventure that leads the massive underground lake and the variety of fish and creatures that call the lake home. It's arguably one of the coolest natural attractions in the Volunteer State.

7. We Have the Most Sensitive Seismic Station On the Planet

Tuckaleechee Caverns has given us a unique ability to hear activity from all over the world. The cave's limestone digs deep into the crust of the earth, allowing for sensitive equipment to pick up activity like waves crashing on the shore 500 miles away. The system will even detect earthquakes or nuclear testing done all the way across the world.

8. Our State Mammal Is the Raccoon

While the black bear seems like the obvious choice for our state's official wild animal, it's actually the humble raccoon. The decision was made in 1971, but raccoons have been found in the woods and scrounging for food in neighborhoods well before then.

9. We're the Only Place in North America That Harvests Freshwater Pearls

That's right: Tennessee is the only place in North America that harvests beautiful, iridescent freshwater pearls. We even have a museum in Camden, called the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearls Museum, that puts the whole process and product on display, so visitors can see just how pearls are excavated from the oysters.

10. Mountain Dew Came From Tennessee

The iconic, bright-green soda came right from our very own state. Yep, Mountain Dew was originally designed to be mixed with whiskey—with the cans and logo donning the brand's first mascot, Willy the Hillbilly—but it went on to become the state's and much of the world's favorite soft drink.

11. The First Combination Candy Bar Was Created Here

The GooGoo Cluster was the first-ever combination candy bar, which means that it used several ingredients to make the candy. The wildly popular snack was invented right here in Nashville and uses four ingredients to make it so delicious: caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts, and milk chocolate. We even still have the original GooGoo Shop, which opened in 1912, that sells all sorts of delicious sugary concoctions.

We love all these weird but true facts about our beloved state. Looking for more Tennessee trivia? Get all the insider info by planning a trip to one of our awesome cities, using Only In Your State's itinerary planner for dining, lodging, and sightseeing recommendations.