Tennesseans value the land and work to make tourism sustainable by promoting recycling and other green practices. These environmental protections ensure that visitors can continue to experience the state's history, culture and natural beauty.
The Volunteer State is rich in history wherever you go. The state's Capital, Nashville, has been a popular destination since the Grand Ole Opry opened its doors in the 1920s. Today, the city is a country music hub and home to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Tennessee has a wealth of culture and outdoor activities. Memphis is home to Beale Street, where blues was born, and Elvis Presley's home, Graceland. Outdoor activities flourish throughout the state, including hiking and bicycling in the Smoky Mountains and whitewater rafting on rivers like the Ocoee and Nantahala. Anglers can also find rivers and lakes featuring a variety of freshwater fish.
As of 2010, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most visited national park in the U.S., but it was originally a source of controversy. Families descended from the area's first settlers occupied much of the land, and businesses had their own plans. Some hoped to build a road through the Smokies, and others were interested in natural resources, primarily timber. Issues were finally resolved after seventeen years of struggle, and in 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park in a ceremony at Newfound Gap.
