1. May Day has historically been a significant day for workers' rights in Tennessee. In 1886, labor unions across the country declared May 1 as the date for a nationwide strike to demand an eight-hour workday. While violent clashes between protesters and police erupted in other cities, Nashville saw peaceful demonstrations with about 4,000 workers participating.

2. The 1892 Coal Creek War, also known as the Tennessee Coal Mining Riot, began on May 1 after miners in Anderson County went on strike to protest the exploitative working conditions and low pay imposed by the mining companies. The conflict escalated to a full-blown armed campaign that lasted for months and resulted in the state militia intervening to restore order.

3. May 1, 1899, marked the centennial anniversary of the founding of Memphis as a city. The Memphis Centennial Celebration included festivities such as parades, exhibitions, and concerts that drew crowds from across the region.

4. On May 1, 1901, Nashville's first public library, Carnegie Library, was dedicated. The library was funded by a $100,000 donation from industrialist Andrew Carnegie and served as the city's main public library until 1963.

5. May 1, 1960, was the day when Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African American girl, became the first black student to attend an all-white elementary school in the South when she entered William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans amidst protests and threats. Many Tennesseans participated in the civil rights movement, and their contributions were significant in achieving desegregation in schools and other public spaces.