10 Historic Photos That Show Us What It Was Like Living In Tennessee In The 1900s

Tennesee’s history is vast and truly incredible, one that includes not only the inception of the United States but its split during the Civil War and its expansion during the 19th century. We’ve compiled a series of photographs from the TEVA, the Tennessee Virtual Archives, that highlight the photographic history of the state in the 1900s. From mountain hikes to grocery aisles, there’s something that’s bound to fascinate you below.

TEVA

June in 1940 looked a little different here in Tennessee, and these hikers enjoyed the expansive beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.

TEVA

This photo is undated but was most likely taken between 1910 and 1913 when the Parksville Dam was built in the Cherokee National Forest. It's the oldest man-made lake in the forest itself, and the project was completed in 1913.

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TEVA

This shot of Bob Fowler Grocery was taken in downtown Gleason, Tennessee. Can you imagine shopping for your daily goods here? What a time warp!

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TEVA

This undated shot was taken on Depot Street, also called Cooper Block, in Oneida, Tennessee

TEVA

This old shot of the Jackson Fire Department was taken in the early 1900s.

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TEVA

Known as one of the cutest Main Streets in the United States, downtown Franklin has always had its charm.

TEVA

Here you can see Ripley during the Great Road Rally of 1928.

TEVA

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TEVA

Spoiler alert: it was 1949.

TEVA

This shot is taken of Broad Street looking toward Church Circle.

What an incredible look back at our state’s past. Do you have any stories about or photos of Tennessee to share? Make sure you leave them in the comments!