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Posted in Tennessee History April 09, 2015 by Meghan Kraft

These 19 Rare Vintage Photos Taken In Tennessee Should Never Be Forgotten

There’s something sweet about the nostalgia of an old photograph. With a heady heritage of Civil War strife and twentieth century growth, Tennessee has its share of vintage photos that speak to an era gone by. Take a look for a peek back in time, at a southern state that helped build the world you live in, today.

19) The Memphis train station serves as the backdrop for this photograph, one of Louis Nelson and his grandson before he heads off to a Confederate reunion celebration in 1932.

18) These darling angels sang sweet Tennessee tunes in Memphis, 1969.

17) Take a look at the Nashville rail yard in 1864.

16) In this shot from 1864, a young woman is seen sitting at the tomb of President James K. Polk. His grave was and is located in Nashville, TN - though we can promise it looks a bit different now.

15) This bright-eyed family had the chance to start out in good 'ol Memphis. What a great place for a beginning, hey?

14) Fess Parker, the star of known for his work as Davy Crockett, waves to a crowd of Tennesseans.

13) 1904 was a good year for the grandeur of George W. Callahan's home, located just north of Knoxville.

12) Hard at work in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, date unknown.

11) This portrait of Jesse James was taken by CC Giers in Nashville and was just recently sold for $51,000.

10) This aged photograph gives you a look at Chattanooga.

You can still ride the Lookout Mountain Incline, although this photo was taken in 1957.

9) Mary Foust of Anderson County with her loom, a woman who supposedly lived close to 100 years old.

8) You can only imagine the story behind this photo from Memphis in the early twentieth century.

7) A scene from July, 1969. Mrs. Pearl is sipping her way through a Tennessee summer.

6) The rugged faces from the Battle of Nashville.

5) An old shot of young'ns smoking Omar Cigarettes, found in Lebanon.

4) The Nashville Downtown Presbyterian Church in the 1860's stood a lot lonelier than it does today. You can still visit this beautiful place, and it is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

3) The Memphis Public Library had this gem, a shot of Saunders at the wheel of a newly minted car in the late twenties or early thirties. Can YOU name that car?

2) December of 1864 saw the two-day Battle of Nashville, a solemn loss of life encapsulated by this old photograph. You can almost feel the heartache reverberate through the shot.

1) Fort Sanders union engineers are seen here in November of 1863.

From railroads and battlefields to the hills of Chattanooga, Tennessee is a place of past magic and mystery. What did you think? Tell us about your favorite shots below!

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Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.