On June 1, 1796 Tennessee became the 16th state accepted into the United States of America. During the first 14-years of statehood, Tennessee saw a growth in population of more than 165,000 new residents. Tennessee began as a farming territory and continued to be an agricultural community until the mid-1900s. Today Tennessee is an industrial mecca, a professional sports wonderland and the country musical capitol of the world.

Tennessee is probably most famous for it contribution to the musical industry. Many thousands of country singers have made their dreams come true by singing at the Grand Ol Opry. Many thousand more prayed for the day they could step foot on that stage. Tennessee was also home to an amazing and powerful musical giant, Elvis Presley the "King of Rock n' Roll."

Graceland can be found in Memphis. This is the mansion where Elvis Presley lived. It is still the center of a yearly migration for many Presley fans. The anniversary of the King's death is a particularly busy time of year for Graceland. This is when many long-time followers come to pay respects to their fallen hero.

The state of Tennessee is home to three professional sports team. The Tennessee Titans is part of the National Football League. The Titans stadium is found in the great city of Nashville. The Memphis Grizzlies are a National Basketball League. The Nashville Predators are members of the National Hockey League. Each of these sports teams bring thousands of spectators and fans to Tennessee every year.

Memphis Tennessee is also the site of the infamous Martin Luther King Jr. assassination.

With so much history, arts and sports to be found in the state of Tennessee, it is no wonder that it is such a popular vacation destination for many American as well as international tourists every year.