1. Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States on March 2, 1796. The state's name "Tennessee" is derived from the Cherokee word "Tanasi."

2. On March 2, 1867, Tennessee passed the first law in the United States prohibiting the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages. Known as the "temperance law," it was a response to growing societal concerns about alcoholism and its negative effects on individuals and families.

3. In 1912, Nashville-born Wilma Rudolph, one of the greatest women athletes in history, was born on March 2. She overcame polio as a child and went on to become a three-time gold medalist in track and field events at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

4. The Tennessee state capitol building, located in Nashville, was completed on March 2, 1859, and was modeled after the Greek Revival style. The building's dome was later gilded with 23-karat gold leaf in the 1990s.

5. On March 2, 1945, the USS Tennessee battleship, named after the state, played a notable role in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. The ship helped provide artillery and bombardment support for the Marines as they fought to seize the island from Japanese forces.