Tennessee Specialty Plate
Official Design Competition
Calling All Artist and Designers!
Official Tennessee State Tag Design Competition!
A design contest has been launched to create the newest license plate featuring Tennessee’s most notable tagline “The Volunteer State.”
This is an opportunity that will allow you to forever change and benefit the Rocky Mount State Historic Site.
Why Tennessee is called The Volunteer State
Tennessee’s infamous nickname “The Volunteer State” is due to its overwhelming involvement in the War of 1812. Sixteen years after gaining statehood, patriotic Tennesseans were eager to participate in the war effort. Over 1,500 soldiers volunteered to follow General Andrew Jackson, Tennessean, into battle against the British for a second time. With the aide of these helpful Tennesseans, American troops were able to defeat the British during the final battle of the war, the Battle of New Orleans.
Although, Tennessee’s infamous nickname “The Volunteer State” is due to its overwhelming involvement in the War of 1812, Tennesseean’s have been “volunteering” since before it was officially a state. During the war for American Independence, 480 would-be Tennesseans answered the call and assisted American troops in defeating the British Army during the Battle of King’s Mountain, in South Carolina. These “volunteers” became part of what is now known as the Overmountain Men.
In 1846, the nickname became even more applicable after the Mexican-American War. The Secretary of War asked Tennessee for 2,800 soldiers, over 30,000 “volunteered”. When a former Tennessee congressman, Davy Crockett, died at the Alamo, passionate Tennesseans saw this as the perfect opportunity for revenge on the Mexican government.
With Davy Crockett’s death successfully avenged, all Mexican claims to Texas forfeited, and 50% of Mexican territory relinquished to the United States, Tennessee’s nickname “The Volunteer State” was solidified.
How to participate
Contest information packets will be available at the front desk of Rocky Mount State Historic Site, starting Wednesday, March 16, 2022, or by clicking the link below. Contestants have until Sunday, April 11th, 2022 to create and submit their entries.
