1. Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States on May 7, 1796. The state was created from land acquired in the Treaty of Paris (1783) that ended the American Revolutionary War.

2. The Battle of Thompson's Station occurred on May 7, 1863, during the American Civil War. This battle was a part of the Tullahoma Campaign conducted by the Confederate Army of Tennessee against the Union Army of the Cumberland. The Confederate forces, led by General Earl Van Dorn, were initially successful, but ultimately had to retreat because of the Union reinforcements.

3. On May 7, 1915, the USS Tennessee was launched at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This battleship, which was commissioned on June 3, 1920, participated in World War II and was a part of the Pacific Fleet during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The USS Tennessee was decommissioned on February 14, 1947.

4. The Memphis Belle, a B-17 Flying Fortress, completed its 25th and final combat mission on May 7, 1943, during World War II. This aircraft was the first to complete 25 missions and return to the United States with its crew intact. The Memphis Belle is now on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

5. On May 7, 1988, the Opryland USA theme park opened its doors in Nashville, Tennessee. This 120-acre park featured rides, live shows, and attractions based on country music. Opryland USA was a popular destination for families and tourists until it closed on December 31, 1997. The site of the park is now occupied by the Opry Mills shopping mall.