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9 Bizarre Historical Events That Shaped Tennessee’s Past
By Andy Lee
I have had the pleasure of researching some of Tennessee’s fascinating history. From civil wars to natural disasters, the state’s past is full of peculiar stories that have shaped its culture and identity. So, without further ado, here are 9 bizarre historical events that shaped Tennessee’s past.
1. The New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812
Between December 1811 and February 1812, a series of massive earthquakes rocked the Mississippi Valley, including Tennessee. The largest quake, estimated to be between 7.5 and 8.0 on the Richter scale, caused the Mississippi River to flow backward, created new lakes and waterfalls, and caused widespread destruction. The song “New Madrid” by Uncle Tupelo refers to the earthquake with the lyrics “rivers burn then run backwards.” In fact, the tremors were so strong that they were felt as far away as Canada and caused church bells to ring in Boston.
2. The Bell Witch Haunting of 1817-1821
The Bell Witch is a legendary ghost story that has haunted Tennesseans for generations. The legend goes that John Bell, a farmer in Robertson County, was tormented by a ghostly presence that spoke to him and his family, threw objects, and even poisoned him. The story has been immortalized in books, movies, and TV shows, and some people still claim to have seen the Bell Witch’s ghost.
3. The Trail of Tears of 1838
One of the darkest chapters in Tennessee’s history is the Trail of Tears, which refers to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands to Oklahoma. In 1838, the Cherokee Nation was forcibly removed from their homes in Tennessee and marched more than 1,200 miles to Indian Territory, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people due to disease, starvation, and exposure.
4. The Battle of Shiloh of 1862
The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, fought in April 1862 near the Tennessee River. The Union army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, faced the Confederate army, led by General Albert Sidney Johnston. The battle lasted two days and resulted in more than 23,000 casualties, making it one of the deadliest battles in American history.
5. The Great Train Wreck of 1918
In July 1918, two trains collided head-on near Nashville, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people and injuring more than 170 others. The accident was caused by a miscommunication between the train dispatchers, and it remains one of the deadliest train wrecks in American history.
6. The Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925
In 1925, a high school teacher named John Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution in his classroom, which was against Tennessee law at the time. The trial, which became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, became a national sensation, and attracted media attention from all over the country. The trial resulted in a guilty verdict for Scopes but helped to pave the way for the teaching of evolution in public schools.
7. The Flood of 1937
In January 1937, the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers flooded, causing widespread devastation in Tennessee and other states. The floodwaters covered more than 26,000 square miles and caused more than $400 million in damages (equivalent to more than $7 billion today). The disaster resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people and forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
8. The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968
On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. The assassination sent shockwaves throughout the country and resulted in riots and protests in major cities across the United States. Dr. King’s death marked a turning point in the civil rights movement and inspired a new generation of activists to fight for equality and justice.
9. The “Body Farm” of 1981
In 1981, Dr. William M. Bass, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, established the “Body Farm,” a research facility that studies the decomposition of human bodies under various conditions. The Body Farm has become a vital tool for law enforcement, helping to solve countless murder cases and identify the remains of missing persons. It has also been the subject of numerous books, movies, and TV shows.
These 9 bizarre historical events have left an indelible mark on Tennessee’s past and shaped the state’s culture and identity. While some of these events are tragic and others are bizarre, they all have one thing in common: they remind us that history is never dull or predictable. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a ghost story, a battle, or a scientific experiment, Tennessee’s history is full of surprises and lessons for the present and future.
As Tennesseans, we should cherish and celebrate our history, warts and all. By remembering the past, we can honor the sacrifices and struggles of those who came before us, and hopefully, build a better future for ourselves and our community.
I was thinking about... 