Tennessee is a state with a history as rich as it is diverse. From the heights of the Smoky Mountains to the flatlands of the Memphis Delta, Tennessee is full of wonderful folks, dramatic landscapes, historic sites, interesting tales, toe-tapping music and authentic crafts. The state’s Heritage Trails allow you to pursue your own special interest, be it history, music, or arts & crafts. You'll also find detailed information on annual events and festivals, outdoor recreation, and sightseeing tours. There are three geographic divisions of Tennessee—West, Middle and East—each with its own rich heritage.

On the Arts & Crafts Trail you'll find small-town craft commissaries and urban fine arts galleries. Search for folk art, white oak baskets, watercolors, sculpture and lithographs. You'll also come face to face with players in outdoor dramas and be entertained by elaborate stage productions that tell the history of Tennessee while giving life to newly created works. Whether it's the Ruffin Theater in Covington, Foothills Crafts in Manchester, or the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community in Gatlinburg, there's a visual surprise around every bend in the road.

Explore the History Trail and discover the people and events that have shaped America's 16th state. Throughout the three sections of Tennessee, you’ll see antebellum homes, Civil War battlefields, living history reenactments, and southern folklore! Walk in the footsteps of Sequoyah, the Cherokee silversmith turned inventor of an entire alphabet. Pause to smell the flowers in President Andrew Jackson's gardens and sit on the steps where Alex Haley first heard the family stories he retold in Roots.

Along the Music Trail you'll find Tennessee's diverse musical styles evolving from three cultural traditions. East Tennessee's Appalachian region is known for folk songs and bluegrass tunes rooted in the immigrant influences of the 1700s. Middle Tennessee's country music flows out of small town cafes and fiddling' festivals and mingles with the constantly evolving "Nashville Sound." The music of West Tennessee beats from the heart of Memphis, birthplace of the blues and rock 'n' roll.

Memphis
Located in the heart of the South, on one of the world's largest rivers, at the junction of two major interstates and three state lines, Memphis has developed a culture distinct from other destinations. Memphis' own brand of Southern hospitality also makes it famous. The historic "Home of the Blues" is a must for all tourists interested in experiencing the rich musical heritage for which Memphis has long been known.

Beale Street, once the musical home of W.C. Handy, B.B. King, Albert King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Cash, and Booker T & the MG’s, to name a few, continues its rich musical tradition. It still has a fascinating collection of nightclubs, shops, restaurants, boutiques, and outdoor special events. Memphis is known as the pork barbecue capital of the world with more than 200 barbecue restaurants, many of them owned by some of Memphis' most successful African-American entrepreneurs. Food, music, culture, heritage, and the King. Memphis has it all!

Here are some other things that you should check out:

• The Gibson Guitar Factory and Museum
• The Peabody Marching Ducks
• The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
• Graceland
• The National Civil Rights Museum.

Nashville
It is the ideal destination for all kinds of visitors: music fans, history buffs, southern lovers, or sports enthusiasts. You can tour Nashville's national treasure—The Hermitage: home of President Andrew Jackson, our nation's seventh president. The world's only full-scale reproduction of the famous Greek temple, Nashville's Parthenon stands in Centennial Park, conveniently close to both Music Row and downtown. The Tennessee State Museum houses more than 60,000 square feet of exhibits tracing the history of Tennessee and the nation from prehistoric Indians, through the Civil War, and into the early 1900s. The Van Vechten Gallery at Fisk University houses more than 100 works of art from the Alfred Stieglitz Collection including works by Picasso, Cézanne, Renoir and O'Keeffe, along with touring exhibits.

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where you can step into the world of country music and discover the stories behind the songs. There are over 3,000 stage costumes, original song manuscripts, instruments and personal items on display. Don't miss the world famous Grand Ole Opry, which has brought country music to America for over 73 years. Come and see superstars, Hall of Famers, legends, and hot new stars perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House, a 4,400-seat broadcast studio. At Players Island Casino, you can enjoy Las Vegas-style casino gambling with unlimited wagering. Tour the Jack Daniels distillery, which is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic places.

Live entertainment is featured along the Mississippi on the General Jackson Showboat. Every cruise features a Broadway-style show in the Victorian Theater and performances in other locations throughout the boat. Relax and experience travel in the Tennessee Central Railway Museum, a fully restored 1950s-era passenger train featuring air conditioning, large picture windows and reclining seats.

The Smoky Mountains
If relaxing under a towering white pine in quiet woodland beside a cool mountain stream is your pleasure, this is the campground for you. This place exudes an atmosphere of escape from civilization. Since it is in the park’s lowlands, this campground can be fairly warm, if not downright hot, in the summer. But no matter how hot it gets during the day, you can always expect it to cool down in the evening. A water fountain and cold running water, situated in the middle of the campground, are there to slake your thirst and satisfy your water needs.

Perhaps more than anything else, visitors to the Smokies love to go hiking. Whether it's a short nature trail or a 12-mile excursion, it's probably the best way to experience the natural beauty of the park. One of the many unique experiences in the park is a hike to Mount LeConte. When the dog days of summer send temperatures soaring into the 90s, the cool glens of Greenbrier in the Great Smoky Mountains offer a welcome retreat. All imaginable types of outdoor activity can be found here; it is a perfect place for rafting, boating, camping, hunting, fishing, or cycling.

Chattanooga
Historic Chattanooga is another popular locale during a visit to the Volunteer State. Made famous by its Choo-Choo and known as the birthplace of Coca-Cola, which was first bottled here, Chattanooga also has a number of attractions the tourist won’t want to miss. There is the Tennessee Aquarium, the world's largest freshwater aquarium with over 7000 types of plants, fish, and wildlife. Or you could try out the Imax & Reg 3D Theater and the Creative Discovery Museum, where kids of all ages can play with the interactive exhibits. Ruby Falls is a sparkling 145' underground waterfall, and at Rock City Gardens, you can actually "See Seven States" and wander through unique rock formations to the beautiful view at Lover's Leap. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway has the steepest incline railway in the world, and on the Southern Belle Riverboat, you can cruise the Tennessee River while enjoying a fabulous dinner with live entertainment. Lastly, try a visit to the Battles for Chattanooga Museum and talk with our 1863 "soldier" to learn about Chattanooga's importance during the Civil War.

Area: 42146 sq.mi, Land 41220 sq. mi., Water 926 sq.mi.

Location: 36.17155 N, 086.78482 W.

Border States: Alabama - Arkansas - Georgia - Kentucky - Mississippi - Missouri - North Carolina - Virginia.

Agriculture: Soybeans, cotton, tobacco, livestock and livestock products, dairy products, cattle, hogs.

Industry: Chemicals, transportation equipment, rubber, plastics.

Flag: The three stars on the flag represent the three different landforms in Tennessee. Mountains in the east, highlands in the middle and lowlands in the west. On the flag these regions are bound together in an unbroken circle. The field is crimson with a blue background for the stars. The final blue strip relieves the sameness of the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when it is limp.

State Motto: Agriculture and commerce.

Origin of state's name: Named after Cherokee Indian villages called "Tanasi".

Population: 5,483,535; 16th, 12/99 +.

Statehood: June 1, 1796.

Topography : Rugged country in the east; Great Smokey Mountains of the Uankas; low ridges in the Applachian Valley; the flat Cumberland Plateau; slightly rolling terrain and knobs of the interior low plateau, the largest region; Eastern Gulf coastal plain to the west, laced with meandering streams; Mississippi alluvial plain, a narrow strip of swamp and flood plain in the extreme west.

State Capital: Nashville.

Largest Cities: Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Clarksville.

Geographic Center: Rutherford, 5 miles northeast of Murfreesboro.

Highest Point: Clingmans Dome; 6643 feet, 17th.

Lowest Point: Mississippi River; 182 feet, 29th.

State Bird: Mockingbird.

State Flower: Iris - Iridaceae.

State Nickname: Volunteer State.

State Song: Tennessee, My Homeland.

State Tree: Tulip Tree - Liriodendron tulipifera.