The Tennessee region was originally inhabited by Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Creek nations until Europeans began arriving in the 1500s, then settling there in the 1700s.
Originally the area of Tennessee was part of North Carolina, but as settlers pushed westward across the Appalachian Mountains, it was clear that the territory needed its own governance. After the American Revolution and in 1796, Tennessee officially became the 16th state to join the Union.
In the early 1800s, the US government forced the removal of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in Tennessee to Oklahoma The highway signs were a sobering reminder of the Trail of Tears and the cost of westward expansion.
Like Kentucky, Tennessee was deeply divided during the Civil War and was a major battleground throughout. More than a hundred years later, the state was a central location of the fight for equal rights and Nashville was the site of numerous sit-ins.
Hawke and I got a chance to go through Nashville on our LQS tour and we didn’t have much time to explore, so I made sure the one thing we saw was White Limozeen, a Dolly Parton-themed bar downtown. With a pink bar, a rooftop pool and restaurant and a ginormous Dolly head, it’s a favorite for bridal showers (which we saw at least four). In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much pink in my life!
Both Nashville and Memphis played important roles in the development of music, though they differ greatly. Nashville is known as the heart of country music and where you can find the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Memphis is known for the blues and Beale Street is the place to go to hear both contemporary and classic blues (and catch some very good BBQ).
On a separate trip I got to visit Memphis and stayed at the Graceland hotel and spent the day at the National Civil Rights Museum. Housed in the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the museum was one of the best I’ve been to. I learned so much about the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King and the ongoing fight for equality.
The Smoky Mountain National Forest is near Pigeon Forge–the drive through the park on Cades Cove Loop Road is absolutely beautiful and, again, so incredibly educational. There are farmhouses, mills and homes that have been there since before Tennesse became a state.
Driving into Pigeon Forge was quite the experience–it’s like Las Vegas in the Smokies. I wanted to go so I could visit Dollywood, which we did, but I had no idea just how crazy that little town could be!
We stayed near Chattanooga for nearly a week and got to explore a variety of sights at Lookout Mountain. We did a night-time visit to Ruby Falls, which included a fascinating tour through caves ending in an underground waterfall. Rock City lived up to the hype (I saw signs for it on barns in Arkansas and Kentucky!) with its paths through canyons, across bridges and culminating in a view that (supposedly) allows you to see seven states at once.
Quilt Block
Tennessee has a long history of mining of coal, copper, lead and zinc, so I chose a block that memorializes that industry. It’s pieced much like a Courthouse Block, but includes only the top and sides.
If you want to make it look more like a mine, keep it dark from center to outer edge. I worked the other direction in color value for one, so either way works!
The thing to remember with this is that each side should match as you go, knowing that can help you keep your blocks straight and even.
Quilt Shops
- Twisted Sisters Quilt Shop in Alcoa is a local favorite has an extensive online store, as well. They offer so many classes and consistently win awards for being a top quality quilt shop.
- Iva’s Company & Studio in Sevierville is a perfect stop on your way to Pigeon Forge and offers all sorts of fabrics, patterns and classes.
- Hyderhangout in Cleveland has a wide variety of quilting fabrics, notions and patterns.
I can’t wait to see your Tennessee block! If you live in or have visited Tennessee, I’d love hear more about it!
P.S. I almost forgot one of my other museum favorites: The Museum of Appalachia (pronounced Apple Atcha there) outside of Knoxville. There were so many quilts, but beyond that it was an in-depth look at life in one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges. If you get the opportunity to go, take it!
