1. On December 20, 1820, the city of Memphis was incorporated. Initially named Fort Pickering, the city was renamed Memphis in honor of the ancient Egyptian capital on the Nile River.

2. December 20, 1864, saw the start of the Battle of Nashville, a significant Civil War conflict. Union forces, led by General George Thomas, decisively defeated Confederate troops under General John Bell Hood, effectively ending Confederate resistance in Tennessee.

3. On December 20, 1944, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) completed construction of the Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River, which is the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains. The dam is an important source of hydroelectric power and provides flood control.

4. December 20, 1952, marked the opening of Opryland USA, a popular theme park in Nashville. The park, which closed in 1997, became the site of Opry Mills Mall.

5. In 2012, Tennessee Senator Jim Summerville introduced a bill to make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee on December 20th. The bill ultimately failed to pass in the legislature, but it generated significant controversy and debate.