Tennessee

Memphis has been described as both "the Metropolis of the American Nile'? and "a small town with a whole lot of people in it. '?

This volume of vintage photographs captures the unique mix of urban culture and rural roots in a community where great bridges and modern buildings tower within sight of old cotton plantations. In some 200 historic photographs accompanied by insightful captions, Memphis traces the development of this truly American city. From the age of steamboats that carried cotton, lumber, and industrial products throughout the Mississippi River Valley to modern networks of railroads and highways, Memphis' location on the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff has made the city a natural transportation and distribution center. In spite of the devastating yellow fever epidemics of the 1870s and the disastrous floods of the 20th century, the commercial and cultural life has nevertheless flourished. Action scenes of urban life depict the busy streets, fine buildings, beautiful parks, and thriving commerce of pre-World War II Memphis. Within these pages, the city's heritage and diversity are reflected in a variety of photographic essays, including the annual Mid-South Fair and Historic Beale Street.

Roan Mountain depicts this history of this small and diverse appalachian community.

Roan Mountain, a 6,286-foot-high peak, straddles the Tennessee and North Carolina state line in the Appalachian Mountains. Home to world-famous rhododendron gardens, the Appalachian Trail, the site of Gen. John T. Wilder's historic Cloudland Hotel, and record-breaking lofty balds, thousands of visitors, including explorer John Muir and Vice Pres. Richard Nixon, have ascended Roan Mountain over the last two centuries. Biologists, botanists, and tourists have enjoyed its unique natural setting. At the mountain's base and on its slopes, rural communities have endearing histories. Decades ago, the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad passed through the village at the foot of ""the Roan."" The railroad brought wealthy passengers to the mountain-top Cloudland Hotel. It also allowed local industrialists the opportunity to export the area's natural resources. The people of Roan Mountain are proud of their history and have displayed it annually for more than a half-century during the Rhododendron Festival.

Join author and Professor Lisa Whillock Ellis as she details the rich history of Dandridge, Tennessee through vintage images.

Dandridge, Tennessee, the second-oldest town in the state, was founded in 1783 by a group of Scotch-Irish settlers. It was 13 years before Tennessee became the 16th state. The town began as a small frontier settlement along the banks of the French Broad River in the short-lived state of Franklin. In 1793, Dandridge became the county seat for the newly formed Jefferson County. The county was named for then U.S. secretary of state Thomas Jefferson. Dandridge is the only town in the United States named for first lady Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. Davy Crockett married his first wife near Dandridge, and the courthouse still has his marriage bond in its archives. Over the years, it has played host to presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. During the Civil War, the Battle of Dandridge was fought there in winter 1864. In 1942, the town was saved when the Tennessee Valley Authority built a dike to protect it from the waters of Douglas Lake.

Opryland USA attracted millions of visitors each year and gave many celebrities their first taste of show business. As the "Home of American Music," Opryland USA still lives on in the hearts and minds of those who visited this show that made country music famous.

By the late 1960s, the Ryman Auditorium - the fifth home of the Grand Ole Opry - was a deteriorating firetrap in a seedy part of Nashville, yet it still attracted thousands of people each weekend to the "show that made country music famous." In an effort to develop an attraction that could sustain a larger Opry all week long, Opryland was born. Opryland USA operated from May 27, 1972, until December 31, 1997, attracting millions of visitors each year and giving many celebrities their first taste of show business. The park consisted of nine areas, dozens of rides, and Broadway-caliber shows featuring live bands and orchestras. As the "Home of American Music," Opryland USA still lives on in the hearts and minds of those who visited its wooded trails, lazy streams, exciting attractions, and toe-tapping performances.

Camp Forrest is a microcosm of the immensity that was World War II, all inside the small community of Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Originally named Camp Peay and built in 1926 as a National Guard Camp, Camp Forrest was renamed for Confederate General and first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and became a World War II induction, training and prisoner of war facility in Tullahoma. The self-sustained city was home to seventy thousand soldiers and about twelve thousand civilian employees, including German and Italian prisoners of war as well as Japanese, German and Italian American citizens who were forcibly incarcerated. After the war ended, the base was decommissioned and dismantled, but the memories of those who lived, worked, trained and grew up during this time of sacrifice and war recount a time the world has not seen since. Author Elizabeth Taylor uses numerous personal interviews, newspaper articles, diaries and biographies to tell the stories of those who lived through the era.

Eastern Sevier County rests in the toursity foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but also boasts a colorful history of its own.

Eastern Sevier County is home to the small communities of Foxfire Mountain, Pittman Center, Jones Cove, Richardson's Cove, Locust Ridge, and Pearl Valley. Foxfire Mountain is best known today for the adventure park and agri-tourist destination brought to life by the Postlewaite family, yet it also boasts a colorful history that includes Benjamin Owens, a judge notorious for hanging convicts from an oak tree on his property. Locust Ridge is the birthplace of country music legend Dolly Parton, and it has been reported that her father compensated the attending physician who delivered Dolly with a bag of cornmeal.

Pittman Center, originally a Cherokee hunting ground, is now the largest community in this portion of the county. Strangely, the town is named for Dr. Eli Pittman of New York, who assisted local minister John Burnett with fundraising to build a school to serve the area. Pittman Center is now a favorite destination for those enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains is a century of family fun and entertainment in Sevier County, Tennessee

Sevier County and The Great Smoky Mountains are among the most visited places in the country, and have been since the early 20th Century. But, as with most tourist towns, while the destination stays the same, the attractions change. What tourists find today is very different from what used to be.

Over the last 100 years, many attractions, motels, restaurants, and other businesses have come and gone. Modern tourists visit Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Ober Gatlinburg and, most famously, Dolly Parton's Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. However, these are just the latest in a rich history of family fun and entertainment in Sevier County, including Jolly Golf, Magic World, Archie Campbell's Hee Haw Village, the Rebel Railroad, Goldrush Junction, Silver Dollar City, The Little Brown Jug Restaurant, and dozens more.

Lost Attractions of Sevier County collects and preserves the memories, pictures, and signboards of these ""lost attractions"" that formed the foundation of today's Sevier County tourism economy. So join authors Tim Hollis, a historian of the Southern tourism industry, and Sevier County resident Mitzi Soward as they take you on a rollercoaster ride through a century of mountain fun!

From a lonely carosel ride to a southern vacation destination, the story of Libertyland is as surprising as its legendy roller coasters and as delightful as its memorable characters.

Nestled in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, the Libertyland theme park debuted on America's bicentennial: July 4, 1976. The quaint park celebrated America's history, heritage, and culture. Not only was it home to Elvis Presley's favorite roller coaster, Libertyland also offered guests rides on the historic Grand Carousel, exciting shows, gift shops selling handcrafted souvenirs, delicious food, and much more. The park's themed areas--Colonial Land, Frontier Land, and Turn-of-the-Century Land--paid tribute to some of the country's most historically significant eras. From its opening in 1976 until its closure in late 2005, Libertyland was a first roller coaster ride, a first date, a family reunion, a summer job, or simply a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the real world.

Author Brian Allison illustrates the darker shades of Nashville's colorful past.

Nashville is known for its bold, progressive flair, but few are aware of the city's malevolent past. A rowdy red-light district called "Smoky Row" spawned several fatal episodes. A murderous temptress with a penchant for poison once strolled the city streets. Legends range from Andrew Jackson's bar fight with Senator Thomas Hart Benton to the macabre 1938 Marrowbone Creek cabin murders. In 1938, a state penitentiary fugitive escape triggered a tragic gunfight.

The Johnson City area was originally settled in 1777 by pioneers from North Carolina with land grants who were dissatisfied with their representation in North Carolina.

These local citizens held a convention and formed the state of Franklin in 1784. This state was never recognized by Congress. It fizzled out in 1788, and Tennessee was formed in 1796. More settlers came to the new state, but the area was destined to grow into a city when a combination of railroad connections in the area sparked growth during the late 19th century. In 1903, the creation of the National Soldiers Home brought disabled veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Civil War to Johnson City. Readers of this book will enjoy viewing photographs and reading about early residents, prominent homes, and historic buildings such as the East Tennessee Normal School, which opened in 1911. Many of the more than 200 photographs in this volume have never before been published.

This book sheds new light on John Sevier, founding father of the state of Tennessee.

A celebrated soldier, admired politician and founding father of the state of Tennessee, John Sevier led an adventurous life. He commanded a frontier militia into battle against British Loyalists at Kings Mountain. He waged a relentless war against the Cherokees in his effort to claim America's first frontier. He forged the state of Franklin from the western lands of North Carolina and later became Tennessee's first governor. Following his death, Sevier's accomplishments faded from public memory, but years later, writers resurrected his image through romanticized accounts of his exploits, relying heavily on folk tales and recollections from aging pioneers. Thus, life and legend intertwined. Join authors Gordon T. Belt and Traci Nichols-Belt as they examine John Sevier's extraordinary life through the lens of history and memory, shedding new light on this remarkable Tennessee figure.

Discover the vibrant history of Knoxville, Tennessee, in this series of articles from Jack Neely's acclaimed ""Secret History"" column in Knoxville's Metro Pulse.

Neely delves into the shadows of centuries past and weaves a path of local history with unmistakable wit and precision. Learn about the people who made Knoxville the ""obscure prismatic city"" through their genius, bravery or even impiety--natives like Adolph Ochs, whose fear of the old Presbyterian cemetery kick-started his ascent to the editor's desk at the New York Times; Clarence Brown, the University of Tennessee graduate turned Hollywood icon; and Knoxville's own Mark Twain. Learn about race riots, labor riots and good old-fashioned drunken riots, and discover why Knoxville is Tennessee's forgotten music city.

A fascinating behind the scenes look into the unique history and culture of Chattanooga.

The enigmatic hills and woodlands of the Chattanooga area are a sanctuary of history, and the hometown of author Alexandra Walker Clark. Clark has chronicled the history of her hometown for the Chattanooga Times and the Chattanooga History Journal, and in this collection she combines some of her favorite stories. Absorb the city's rich ethnic diversity, travel down to the hallowed battlefields of Chickamauga and Fort Oglethorpe and grasp the compelling legacy of the Cherokee. This and so much more lies ahead in Hidden History of Chattanooga,

Clarence Saunders' vision for a better shopping experience for day-to-day needs has made Piggly Wiggly a staple of southern living for over 100 years.

The grocery business began as a complicated service industry. Random pricing, inconsistent quantities and prescriptive salesmen made grocery shopping burdensome. It took one brash Memphian with uncommon vision and unbridled ambition to change everything. Clarence Saunders worked his way out of poverty and obscurity to found Piggly Wiggly in 1916. With an unprecedented approach, he virtually invented the concept of the modern self-service grocery store. Stores flourished, franchises spread and Saunders made millions. Yet just as the final bricks of Pink Palace--his garish marble mansion--were being laid, Saunders went bankrupt, and he was forced to sell Piggly Wiggly. A variety of new ventures helped Saunders out of bankruptcy, but he never duplicated his prior success. Memphis historian Mike Freeman tracks the remarkable life of this retail visionary.