Tennessee is home to a lot of amazing history. Not only is it home to the worst train accident in United States history (we put a link at the end of the article for those who are curious), but it's also home to the worst maritime disaster in the country's history as well. On a fateful night in April of 1865, just days after the Civil War was formally ended and President Lincoln was assassinated, the Sultana steamboat left Memphis on its journey to bring thousands of Union soldiers back to the North from the war. Unfortunately, it would never make it.
One of those negative bits of history is actually the worst maritime disaster in the country's history. The steam boat exploded just 7 miles north of Memphis while it was carrying over 2,000 passengers, mostly released prisoners of war being returned to the Union. All told, 1,192 passengers were killed in the disaster.
The Sultana was a relatively new steamboat, built in 1863 to transport cotton between St. Louis and New Orleans, but it was frequently commissioned to transport troops up and down the river during the Civil War.
While many died in the initial explosion, the subsequent fire and sinking of the ship also caused many more deaths. Still others, recovering from their war wounds, drowned in the cold waters of the flooding Mississippi. Many were rescued by passing ships and even more were rescued when the current brought them back to Memphis where they were seen and rescued by dockworkers.
At the time, the explosion was overshadowed in the press because it happened the day after John Wilkes Booth was found and killed. You can still find monuments to the disaster all over the Mississippi River Basin, though, like this one in Knoxville.
Check out this video from the History Channel for more in-depth discussion of the disaster and the events that surrounded it.
When it comes to disasters, Tennessee has had an unfortunate history. It's also the home to the deadliest train wreck in US history, and the story will chill you.
You Can See 7 Different States at Once From Lookout Mountain in Tennessee
Wondering how many states you can see from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee? Well, you can see a whopping seven states from the spectacular GA/TN mountaintop.
Tennessee is known more for its hills than its mountains, though the Volunteer State does share the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with North Carolina. What some folks don't realize is that the state is home to one of the most incredible views in the United States. Where can you indulge in such an expansive view, you ask? Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga of course, one of the highest points in Tennessee. I took a trip here a few years ago, and while standing on the mountaintop, I was left awe-struck by the panoramic vistas where I could see several states all at once. How many states can you see from Lookout Mountain, you ask? Good question and one we plan on answering, so read on to find out. This shared natural space remains one of my favorite scenic destinations and it’s also great for families looking to view our grand state from high above. It is a must-see spot right on the southern border of Tennessee and shared with Georgia.
Lookout Mountain can be found just a couple of minutes from the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, and it's known throughout the state for its stunning views and natural wonders. There are several attractions located along the tight and twisting roads of this famous mountain. If you are a history buff then a trip to Point Park is a must.
Fun fact: Lookout Mountain is located in both Georgia and Tennessee, but the Volunteer State has significantly less land than our neighbor to the south. Get ready to state hop!
When locals think of Lookout Mountain, they're bound to bring to mind places like Rock City or the famous underground waterfall, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway you can ride on your way upwards and onwards.
From the famed "Rock City Point," you can see a whopping seven states. The states you can see from Lookout Mountain include Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Alabama. The unique location and high elevation allow one of the best and most expansive views in the country. Trust me, it’s a view that you'll never forget and that’s speaking from experience. After all, standing at 2,000 feet elevation is not an everyday occurrence.
There are all sorts of neat ways to experience Lookout Mountain. Chattanooga is considered one of the top getaways in the nation, and it's a great spot for outdoor adventures and all sorts of family activities. From the lookouts, hiking trails, scenic drives, and attractions, you can easily spend a long time enjoying this mountain destination. When it comes to planning your trip to Lookout Mountain, you'll want to figure out what experiences you're looking to have. Rock City? Ruby Falls? The Incline Railway, or maybe all three?
We would recommend staying the weekend and making the most out of this fantastic destination. If you need a place to stay, consider sleeping right on the mountain in a house rental with that same phenomenal view that we all love from Lookout Mountain. The Birdhouse is one of those excellent mountaintop rentals we can just picture sipping our coffee early in the morning while watching the sun rise in this beautiful land. To book a night or for more information please visit The Birdhouse Airbnb page.
The folks at Lookout Mountain recommend that you start your day with a guided cave tour through Ruby Falls, then head to the Rock City Gardens where you can view the expanse of the world down below from Lover's Leap. Keep in mind: Lookout Mountain is expansive. Rock City is on the Georgia side of the mountain, closer to Ruby Falls, and is well worth the trip. You don't want to rush through this experience!
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Is this not an incredible view and a great destination? Now when someone asks you "How many states can you see from Lookout Mountain?" You will have a great answer. All of those places on Lookout Mountain like Rock City, Ruby Falls, and The Incline Railway have been covered in this awesome Lookout Mountain article you should check out. You will need to get tickets for each attraction so make sure you visit the Rock City, Ruby Falls, and The Incline Railway websites to purchase those tickets and for any more additional information.
Have you been to this scenic spot in Tennessee? Would you visit? Make sure to leave your thoughts, tips, and tricks for a good day trip atop Lookout Mountain or Rock City below. Also, if you're looking to learn more about the area head to the base of the mountain and grab a bite to eat at The Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe.
The day came when they were going to announce the winners of the lottery to see the synchronous fireflies in the Smokies; my hopes were high as I clicked my inbox. To my surprise, I was picked! I have tried for years to get into this one-week event and now I had my ticket and I almost knocked my computer over as I did a double fist to the air in celebration. I may have been cheering (loudly) all by myself alone in the room but this had been long awaited. I called my family and we were excited to do one of the most unique things to do in Tennessee. What happened next is my journey to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will never forget.
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Before we dive headfirst into the adventure we took that night I should backtrack to explain what makes these "bugs" so special. The synchronous fireflies aren't your average lightning bug -- one week of the year they perform a mating ritual that is pure magic. They start to blink their lights and soon all of the others join in creating one of the most breathtaking displays of fireflies I have ever seen. I hope everyone will be able to experience this as we did so here are a few things you need to know about this natural phenomenon.
When are there fireflies in the Smokies?
The fireflies start to show activity around April or May and that is when experts start to predict when the firefly show will happen. It typically takes place in the last week of May or the first week of June, but many factors will come into play as to when the best time for this to take place. All you have to do is keep an eye on the synchronous firefly page and they will announce the dates as well as the dates for the lottery to open.
How do I see the fireflies in the Smokies?
Once the dates are set you will want to be ready for when they open up the lottery if you hope to see the fireflies in the Smokies. They will only allow so many people in during this one week so they choose guests by a lottery system. The reason they do this is to keep this natural phenomenon natural. With too many people it could disrupt the fireflies and we could lose this amazing experience. There is a $1 entry fee and if you are chosen then an additional $24 will be charged. I can tell you that this is difficult to get into but is well worth the years of waiting it took to get picked.
So now that you know a little bit of the journey of what it took to get here you can see why it was so exciting for us as we rode into the ghost town of Elkmont in the Smokies for our big night. I was curious about the process so I found a ranger and asked where do you see the fireflies. She told me that they could be anywhere so we were just going to have to seek them out. That to me sounded like a wild adventure! Wander around in the dark in a ghost town in the Smokies, it was like a dream come true. We explored the area while it was still light and found what we thought would be the best spot to see the fireflies. We set up our spot and then waited for the sun to set. Soon enough we saw our first firefly.
Soon darkness kept over the forest and that was when we started to see more and more fireflies join the show. Lining the path, deep in the woods, and sometimes right in front of our faces we saw flicking green lights illuminating the blackest of night. I did my best to capture it but with such little light from the insects, it was hard for our videos and pictures to truly capture the magic of the moment.
I was so captivated by the scene we stayed there for hours. With the fireflies in unison, the forest would ebb and flow from complete darkness to a glowing green. I spent plenty of summer nights as a kid chasing a couple of fireflies but this was entirely different as we watched thousands of them flickering that night.
The only other light we would see was the occasional red shine cutting through the darkness as someone would move down the path. Regular lights can disrupt the fireflies so you are only allowed to use red light while in Elkmont which made for an even more exciting adventure. Quick tip: if you have a kid that has light-up shoes, you might want to turn them off. Did you know they had an off switch? I didn’t before this night but we quickly learned.
We want to make the most of every adventure when we are in it so we decided to explore around for a little while just to make sure where the best spot was. So we linked hands and walked in total darkness as I led my family with a red light. Once we got to the main drag of Elkmont this is where people were parked, and since people started to leave, there were a few headlights. This was helpful to not trip on a root or unknowingly approach a bear, but it meant the fireflies stayed far away. So what we learned was the further you go from light, the better of a show you can expect. It felt good to know that we stumbled upon the best viewing spot in the park on our first try.
If you get the chance make sure you enter the lottery to see the synchronous fireflies in the Smokies. This was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for us and I have never experienced anything like that before in my life. The park has held alot of special moments for me over the years from fireflies to hiking Alum Cave. To enter the lottery make sure you head over to the synchronous fireflies page on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Make sure to check out our Adventuring in the Moment video to see the full journey of our trip.
