From innovations in music to groundbreaking moments in politics, Tennessee has been home to many pivotal points in U.S. history. It was the site of several key Civil War battles and has been home to many presidents, especially in the country’s early days. The state contributed to some of the most foundational moments and figures in American music. Some of the most striking and significant events of the Civil Rights Movement happened here, too. And often, these histories were intertwined, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of American culture. The sites of many of these moments are still preserved today and can be visited by groups from around the world.
U.S. Civil Rights Trail
he U.S. Civil Rights Trail spans 15 states, covering important landmarks from the Civil Rights Movement of the ’50s and ’60s. Several of these sites are in Tennessee.
One of the most notable sites of the movement is the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Museum visitors can view the room King resided in during the days leading up to his death. The museum also shares exhibits on the impact of King’s death, the Civil Rights Movement, and the ways in which King and the movement are still impactful.
Also located in Memphis is the Withers Collection, a museum and gallery exhibiting the work of photographer Ernest Withers, who captured several major moments of the Civil Rights Movement.
In Nashville, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) honors the history of Black music in the U.S. through immersive exhibits. Guests can scan an RFID bracelet throughout the museum to save playlists and videos to enjoy when they get home.
Another essential Nashville site is Fisk University, the first African American university to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Icons like Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Representative John Lewis are among the university’s world-changing alumni.
In Clinton, not too far from Knoxville, the Green McAdoo
Cultural Center pays tribute to the 12 Black students who were the first to desegregate a Tennessee high school in 1956. Outside the museum, 12 awe-inspiring, life-size statues depict the students on that first day of school.
Presidential History
Tennessee was home to three U.S. presidents: Andrew Johnson, Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk. The life of each can be explored at historic destinations throughout the state.
The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville explores the life of the man who became president after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The site includes a visitor center, Johnson’s early home, the homestead he lived in as an adult, and the cemetery where Johnson and his family are buried. Johnson’s early home displays exhibits about his childhood and his life before entering politics. His homestead contains artifacts owned by the family, and tours are given several times per day.
The President James K. Polk Home and Museum in Columbia is the only surviving home of the 11th president aside from the White House. On the grounds, visitors can explore the house Polk’s sisters once lived in, check out museum exhibits, view the family’s original furniture and art, and learn more about what life was like during this period. The site is also home to a Revival-style boxwood garden, which visitors are welcome to roam.
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Davidson County offers a look into Jackson’s life and the impact of his presidency. Guests can visit Jackson’s former mansion, as well as the gardens of his home, and see exhibits on Jackson’s past and life at the Hermitage.
Civil War Battlefields
As many as 3 million soldiers fought in the Civil War, with an estimated 620,000 losing their lives. Several significant Civil War battles took place in Tennessee, and the sites of these encounters still stand today.
Shiloh Military Park spans 5,000 acres at the Shiloh Battlefield. The park explores what soldiers, their loved ones and everyday Americans might have experienced during this time of upheaval. The park contains the graves of 4,000 soldiers and their family members. It’s also home to the Shiloh Indian Mounds National Historic Landmark, which preserves the site of a former Mississippian Native American village.
Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro is the site of one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, during which 81,000 soldiers fought over the course of three days, resulting in an estimated 23,000 casualties. In addition to the battlefield itself, Stones River also has walking trails and access to the Murfreesboro Greenway system, which can be walked or cycled. Many visitors use these trails to connect with natural surroundings and reflect on the ways this period of history changed so many lives forever.
Another notable Civil War site in Tennessee is Carnton, a plantation house that played a role in the battle of Franklin in 1864. During this battle, over 9,500 soldiers were killed, injured, captured or lost. When the battle of Franklin ended, the Carnton house served as a field hospital for the wounded soldiers. Today, groups can tour Carnton and several buildings on the property.
Uniquely Tennessee
Many of Tennessee’s most distinct attractions highlight a unique period of life in the state, and these must-sees are no exception, starting with the Discovery Park of America in Union City. This museum and
heritage park is a guide through local history, starting with the dinosaurs. The museum’s 10 galleries
highlight advancements in space, tech, science and art. The park’s observation tower, which is the tallest in the region, offers a view worth writing home about. The outdoor heritage park covers 50 acres and includes a reproduction of an early 20th-century town and 19th-century frontier settlement, a historic train depot and a replica of the Liberty Bell. Group discounts are available, as are catered group meal options.
Another peek into Tennessee’s past is available at Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store in
Jackson. This historic village is centany of Tennessee’s most distinct attractions highlight a unique period of life in the state, and these must-sees are no exception, starting with the Discovery Park of America in Union City. This museum and heritage park is a guide through local history, starting with the dinosaurs. The museum’s 10 galleries highlight advancements in space, tech, science and art. The park’s observation tower, which is the tallest in the region, offers a view worth writing home about. The outdoor heritage park covers 50 acres and includes a reproduction of an early 20th-century town and 19th-century frontier settlement, a historic train depot and a replica of the Liberty Bell. Group discounts are available, as are catered group meal options.
Another peek into Tennessee’s past is available at Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store in Jackson. This historic village is centered around locomotive engineer and railroader Casey Jones’ 1870s home. With a railroad museum, charming shops, an ice cream shop and a café, there’s plenty to explore. A central fixture here is Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store and Restaurant, where you’ll find classic Southern eats and delicious desserts.
Next, head to Tullahoma, where the Beechcraft Heritage Museum offers a look at aviation history. This
museum at the Tullahoma Regional Airport features historic aircraft, as well as an exhibit on the life of pilot
Louise Thaden, a pioneer of early aviation. Guests can also explore a hangar filled with early and mid-20th-
century aircraft.
Music History
Music is woven into Tennessee’s past at every turn. From legendary recordings to the birthplaces of some of the industry’s best and brightest, there’s so much to explore. Sun Studio, opened in 1950 in Memphis, was at the forefront of the mainstream rise of rock music in the ’50s — and was also instrumental in the blues, gospel and country scenes. It was here that Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash recorded some of their most powerful work. Travelers can visit the studio, listen to outtakes from stars’ past recording sessions and explore exhibits of rock memorabilia. Private tours for groups can be booked in advance and are available several times per day.
Before hit songs made it to the recording studio in Memphis, many of them were written in Jackson, a town halfway between Nashville and Memphis where artists gathered to play together and hone their craft. This history is honored in Jackson at the Legends of Tennessee Music Museum. The museum houses over 500 artifacts from performers including Carl Perkins, Tina Turner and Sonny Boy Williamson. The museum’s storytellers, who witnessed the early Jackson music scene themselves, can offer firsthand tales of Jackson’s musical history on guided tours.
Music fans will also love the Tina Turner Museum in Brownsville. It’s housed in the former Flagg Grove School, the one-room schoolhouse where Turner (then known as Anna Mae Bullock) spent her early days. The museum includes treasures and artifacts of Turner’s career, including costumes and keepsakes. Guided group tours are available, with options to add on additional local tours to see other notable sites in the Brownsville area.
