Thunderbirds!

An estimated 50,000 people were in attendance at this years Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna, TN. The Thunderbirds were the featured performers.



These are my favorite Thunderbird pictures, butif you'd like to see more, I have several in an extended gallery here:
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=ruther%2Fsmyrna-air-...

Recent Tonado Damage in Southwestern Virginia

From the huge tornado producing storms that hit the southeastern United States on April 27, 2011, One of those storms created an EF3 Tornado in Glade Spring, VA.



The tornado hit a lot full of truck trailers, crossed Interstate 81 near exit 29 and then went through a residential area. All of these photos were taken a couple of days later and shows what can be seen from the Interstate.

Doe River Covered Bridge - Elizabethton

Built in 1882, this is the oldest covered bridge in Tennessee.

Constructed at a cost of $3,000 by contractor Dr. E.E. Hunter, George Lindamood and three carpenters, it spans the Doe River for 134 feet, resting on earth and limestone abutments. Hunter hired Colonel Thomas Matson, who had engineered the narrow guage Tweetsie Railroad, to design the bridge and serve as construction chief. Hunter made a profit of $5 on the bridge, so one of its names is the "Five Dollar Bridge"

The original structure was made almost entirely of wood; mainly mountain oak and white pine beams that were hauled down the steep slopes of the mountains by draft horses and mules, weatherboard of mountain poplar, and shingles cleaved by mallet and fro from chestnut. Hand forged steel spikes and hand threaded bolts fastened together the massive pieces of oak flooring. Termed an engineering feat, and listed in the Historic Engineering Record, the Covered Bridge survived numerous floods, including the great May flood of 1901, which destroyed all the other bridges in the county that crossed the Doe River. It is one of two bridges in Tennessee identified by a Tennessee Historical marker and is included on the National Registry of Historic Sites. The Covered Bridge remains the most photographed and most admired historical structure in Carter County.

The bridge contains one span and is of Howe Truss design. Inside the bridge is one lane of vehicle traffic, plus a pedestrian walkway, although the bridge is now closed to motor vehicles. Each end of the bridge features a projecting truncated gabled roofline.

Two other nicknames of this bridge are "Queen of the South" and "The Kissing Bridge." Every year in June, Elizabethton has a festival called the Covered Bridge Celebration.

Loretta Lynn's Indian Statue

Part of the grounds of the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. The base reads (with misspelled words intact):

Great Spirit grant that I might not critize my neighbor till I have walked a mile in his moscians

State Theater - Elizabethtown, KY

The State Theater was built in 1942 in downtown Elizabethtown, KY along the Dixie Highway. It's a fine example of an Art Deco theater style. The design also reminds us of the way segregation used to be with the door on the far right was for black people which led strait to the balcony.

Old Sears Ad Mural - Downtown Nashville

Here's one I'd never noticed before, when Sears was known as the Farm and Tire Store. I wonder how far that goes back?

It's located on the side of what became Walter Nipper's Sporting Goods Store.

Flickr user RickTNRebel left this insightful comment:

Before "Urban Sprawl and the Shopping Malls" Sears Department Store was located at the southeast corner of Church St and 8th Ave North (the building is still standing) downtown adjacent to the Paramount theatre (sadly, gone). Remember that agriculture was, for a couple of centuries, The primary source of revenue in and around Nashville. Sears, like Montgomery Wards and others, sold farm supplies and equipment.

Just south on 8th, right behind the main store, was the farm and auto supply store (really departments of the same store, just located in an adjacent bldg). This seperate building kept all of the "Work Dressed" farmers and "Grease Coated" mechanics out of the main part of the department store and off of the main, upscale (next to fancy theatre, remember) shopping street! The "Ghost Sign" you photographed is located across 8th Ave North from where the farm and auto store once was and this sign once had an arrow that pointed across the street. Sears moved to their new brick bldg on Lafayette (Now the Nashville Rescue Mission) in the late 60's. I suspect this sign was repainted in the 60s just prior to Sears moving, hence it has survived (sans arrow).

Sears has always had an automotive department that sold Sears' own brand of tires and the "Farm Supply Store" still exists as the "Garden Center". These two departments are still somewhat separated from the rest of the store in most locations.

Burger Bar - Bristol, VA

According to legend, this could have been the last place Hank Williams stopped to eat before he died - as in his driver apparently asked if he wanted a bite to eat while passing by here and Williams said no.

With this in mind, my wife and I decided to eat at the popular local greasy spoon while on our vacation. When we walked in, we found they had three tables and about 6 barstools, all taken the teeny tiny burger joint was packed so we went elsewhere.

L&N Depot neon sign - Knoxville, TN

The old L&N Station located at World's Fair Park in Downtown Knoxville doesn't service passenger trains anymore. However, the buiding is still in use for retail shops and the old neon sign still works.

Catoosa Co. Courthouse - Ringgold, GA

This courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

On the day I drove through town, there were hundred of U.S. Flags all around town. I'm not sure what the occasion was. Each flag is mounted on a cross with a name on it, so I presume it was some kind of city wide war dead memorial

Apparently, this county is a convenient place to get a quick marriage. Dolly Parton was married at this courthouse in 1966.

The main road through town is Nashville St. I guess Chattanooga isn't important enough to be the name of the road. It is also US41 and formerly part of the Dixie Highway

Andrew Johnson's Early Home

Andrew Johnson and his family lived in this house from some time in the 1830's until 1851. Johnson was born and raised in Greeneville, TN. Before entering politics, he was a tailor, and his tailor shop is across the street from this house, although preserved inside of a brick building now.

While living here, his life changed drastically becoming a local alderman and then mayor of Greeneville, continuing on to state represenative and state senator. He was elected U.S. Representative 5 times but moved from this house during that time.
The house that President Johnson moved into in 1851 is just a few blocks away.

Today, this home is part of the Andrew Johnson Visitors Complex, which is part of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places