All About Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains is the most biodiverse park in the National Park system. The park also preserves a rich cultural tapestry of Southern Appalachian history. Students can learn more about both nature in and the history of Eastern Tennessee.

Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Built near Nashville, The Hermitage was Andrew Jackson's home from 1804 until his death in 1845.

The President James K. Polk Home and Museum
Born in 1795, James Polk served 7 terms as a US Congressman, twice as Speaker of the House, the governor of Tennessee, and was the infamous Dark Horse candidate for president in 1844. Learn about Polk and his wife Sarah, who served as an unofficial advisor to her husband. Along with the articles and timeline on the site, there are lesson plans, including "The Dark Horse", "Manifest Destiny", "Gold Rush", and "Polk Pop: Teaching with Music".

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
Andrew Johnson was born into poverty in South Carolina, but by the age of 18, he had made his way to Tennessee, and the state would remain his home for the rest of his life. He spent more than 20 years in TN government before becoming Lincoln's Vice President in 1865. This resource provides information about Reconstruction, the Constitution, Johnson's impeachment, and more. They also offer lesson plans for grades 3-8.

East Tennessee Historical Society
Lesson plans and teaching resources for teaching TN history in context with national events of the time. Includes essays, primary sources, and student activities.

Stones River National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union.

Tennessee Wildlife
Browse the database of TN wildlife and be sure to check out the Live Elk Cam!

Why Knoxville Matters
This 2016 publication by the Knoxville History Project celebrates Knoxville's quasquibicentennial and identifies 25 significant developments where Knoxville made history. Notable events include the advent of Dumpsters, the birth of the SEC, and the South's first public school to desegregate. The format is a magazine flipbook style, so to make it easier to read, you can expand the flipbook to full screen from the menu at the bottom of the app.

Knoxville History Project
If you have more time to dig into the history of Knoxville and East Tennessee, check out the Knoxville History Project website. The Knoxville History Portal is an online repository featuring all facets of Knoxville history through stories, image galleries, videos, podcasts, maps, & more.

TVA: Currents of Change
Interactive history lessons  from the Tennessee Valley Authority that trace the transformation of the Tennessee Valley from the Great Depression through today. Learn how a region once plagued by high unemployment, floods, disease and poor farming conditions began to thrive with the introduction of electricity, and the Tennessee Valley’s role in World War II. Includes maps, videos, and primary sources.

Battle of Chattanooga
The three-day Battles of Chattanooga resulted in one of the most dramatic turnabouts in American military history. When the fighting stopped on November 25, 1863, Union forces had driven Confederate troops away from Chattanooga, Tennessee, into Georgia, clearing the way for Union general William T. Sherman's March to the Sea a year later.

Battle of Franklin
Franklin, TN, was not a major post or a pivotal location during the Civil War, but the city has made an effort to preserve the humanity of those involved. Learn about the battle, the soldiers, and the homes transformed in less than a day to Army headquarters or hospitals. One interesting section gives information about several of the enslaved people who were part of the battle, either as soldiers or as workers in the homes involved. Their histories have been compiled with a combination of letters, census records, and other primary sources. Site includes lesson plans, images and maps, and suggested reading.

The 50 States - Tennessee
From TeachersFirst. A comprehensive resource on Tennessee

Mr. Donn.org - Tennessee
Collection of Tennessee resources from Mr. Donn, who offers one of the largest collections of social studies resources available.

Tennessee Primary Sources (Library of Congress)
Selected Library of Congress primary sources with a Teacher's Guide

50 States.com - Tennessee
Facts & Trivia about Tennessee

RoadsideAmerica.com - Tennessee
Unique tourist attractions and landmarks in Tennessee

Awesome America - Tennessee
Loads of fun facts, photos, and travel information about Tennessee.