Incorporated as the 16th state of the union in the late 18th century, Tennessee has much to offer. From historic landmarks that range from colonial days to the Civil War and natural scenery that range from mountainscapes to rolling countryside, the state is renowned as a tourist destination. To get a better appreciation of state's history and heritage, there are numerous native monuments to seek out and explore.
One of Tennessee's most important monuments is the Alex Haley Statue at Haley Heritage Square, located in Eastern Tennessee in the city of Knoxville. Haley was a significant African American author--his novel "Roots" became a popular miniseries--and he is the best-selling African American writer in history; the monument memorializes his contributions to American history. The bronze statue stands 13 feet tall and shows the writer in a provoking yet humanitarian pose, gazing off into the distant mountains. Haley, also known for penning the biography of civil rights activist Malcolm X, spent his last years in Tennessee.
Alex Haley Statue at Haley Heritage Square
1600 Dandridge Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37915
865-971-4440
The Sunsphere, also located in Knoxville, Tennessee, is one of the state's most famous monuments and landmarks. Built for the 1982 World's Fair, it is a hexagonal structure made of steel with an observation deck at its top, which is shaped like a gold-colored sphere. The sphere itself is seven stories high and glass paneled. The structure continues to serve not only as a symbol of Tennessee and the city of Knoxville--it adorns many postcards--but it also represents a symbol of peace after nuclear war protesters famously scaled the structure in 2000.
World's Fair Park
801 Clinch Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-251-6861
worldsfairpark.com
The David Crockett Monument, located in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is a national monument dedicated to frontiersmen and American politician Davy Crockett. Immortalized in both television and film, Crockett is largely associated with the Texas Revolution, and died at the Battle of the Alamo. A native son of Tennessee, he is commemorated by the state with this life-size bronze statue, situated upon a granite pedestal. Interestingly, it is the only known statue of Crockett in the United States. The park where it is located, the Lawrenceburg Public Square, is also home to the Mexican War Monument, one of just two monuments in America memorializing that historic conflict.
Public Square
Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
lawrenceburg.com
Located in the Meriwether Lewis Park, in south-central Tennessee, the Meriwether Lewis National Monument was erected to honor famous American explorer Meriwether Lewis, one of the leaders of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition, which helped spur the western expansion and settlement of the United States. Lewis actually died nearby, and his grave is located at the monument. The landmark consists of a broken column, which, according to the monument's website, is "symbolic of his untimely death"--he died of self-afflicted gun shot wounds. It was designated as a national monument in 1925.
Meriwether Lewis National Monument
Natchez Trace Parkway and Highway 20
Hohenwald, TN 38462
662-680-4027
nps.gov
Located at Stones River National Battlefield, in Rutherford County, Tennessee, is the Hazen Brigade Monument. The Stones River Campaign was an important part of the American Civil War, and the battle at Stones River ended up becoming a decisive and strategic victory for the Union forces. The monument was erected in 1863 to remember Hazen's Brigade, which, according to the National Park Service website, was the only brigade from the Union side to hold their ground during the battle. The monument is also recognized as the "oldest, intact Civil War monument still standing in its original location."
Hazen Brigade Monument
3501 Old Nashville Hwy.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
615-893-9501
nps.gov
