Some People Don’t Know That Nashville Was The First To Do These 7 Things
By Meghan Kraft|Updated on May 31, 2023(Originally published May 26, 2023)
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Nashville is known for country music, but this sweet southern city has fostered QUITE a few things that snag us a spot in the history books. Whether you have a penchant for sweet things or hot chicken, these seven things wouldn’t exist without Nashville, Tennessee. We were first, we can forever say – we were most definitely first. And the whole world should know. So let’s dive into these 7 Nashville inventions and innovations.
The Cotton Candy Machine was invented by a man from Nashville. The crazy thing? This man was a dentist. It was invented in 1897 but didn't really catch on until the World's Fair rolled through St. Louis in 1904, where it was sold as "Fairy Floss." Fun fact in Australia they still call it fairy floss to this day. Check out this story about the man who invented cotton candy by reading our article covering this sweet treat.
6. Combination candy bars became a thing here in Nashville.
Invented by the Standard Candy Company in 1912, the Goo Goo Cluster was the world's first combination candy bar. At the time, candy was made from chocolate, caramel, or taffy, but not a combination of any of them. So, you can pretty much thank Nashville for inventing the idea that is responsible for 90% of the candy bars at the checkout counter today. The story behind the first candy bar of its kind is a fascinating tale, but better yet, you can visit the original location. The GooGoo Shop
in Nashville is filled with this chocolatey treat and you can even make your own.
Hot Chicken has been a staple in Nashville for decades, but it has recently caught on across the country. You can now find it from New York to Los Angeles, and even Melbourne, Australia now has Nashville-style hot chicken restaurants! Funny enough hot chicken was created as a form of revenge and later became a massive hit with the locals. The original recipe and creator of this sweat-inducing dish can be found at Prince's Hot Chicken in multiple locations around the city.
The first Cracker Barrel was opened more than 45 years ago in the Nashville suburb of Lebanon by a man that wanted to create a down-home experience for any traveler anywhere in America. Today, there are nearly 650 Cracker Barrels across America, all because of one Nashville man's dream. When you think about it this restaurant showcases a lot of values we hold to right here in Tennessee. A good covered porch to sit on and quality Southern comfort food.
The Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville is an iconic and historic hotel. Seven different presidents have stayed at the hotel, including Teddy Roosevelt who tasted the hotel's unique coffee blend and reportedly said that it was "Good 'til the last drop." The rest is history, as Maxwell House Coffee can be found in any grocery store coffee aisle in America, each can still displaying that famous phrase. So when you brew that early morning coffee to fuel your adventures for the day, you can thank Tennessee.
Man's best friend has always been a fearless companion but with a little training our furry friends have proven to offer all kinds of services. Some of these services have been literally a lifesaver. A Nashville Native and Vanderbilt graduate Morris Frank is responsible for introducing Seeing Eye dogs to America. He started training his dogs in Nashville in 1929 but had to relocate to New Jersey shortly thereafter.
Did you know Oprah's TV career began in Tennessee? It's true! She was a regular news anchor on News Channel 5 in the early 1970s, being not only the youngest anchor in the station's history but also the first black female anchor in its history. Since then, of course, Oprah has gone on to bigger and better things, but it all started right here in Nashville!
At the end of the day, we have a lot we can be thankful for, from sweet treats to inventions that have made our life better. The entrepreneurial prowess coming from Music City is palpable for sure. These Nashville inventions and innovations have forever changed the world around us and have given us just another reason to love our capital city.
