Tennessee Innovations
Invented in Tennessee
From sweet treats to practical tools, Tennessee has played a part in inventions, brands, and business ideas that became known far beyond the Volunteer State.
Note: Some entries are true inventions, while others are Tennessee-born products, companies, or innovations.
Cotton Candy
Cotton candy was invented in Nashville by William Morrison and John C. Wharton. Their machine heated sugar and spun it into fine strands, creating the treat first known as Fairy Floss. They introduced it to a wide audience at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
Back to topDempster Dumpster
George Roby Dempster of Knoxville became famous for the Dempster-Dumpster, a mechanized waste container system that changed municipal trash collection. Knoxville became closely associated with the early development of modern containerized garbage collection.
Back to topOak Ridge and the Atomic Bomb
The atomic bomb was not invented by one city or one laboratory, but Oak Ridge played a major role in the Manhattan Project. The Oak Ridge facilities enriched uranium for use in the bomb, making the Secret City one of the most important sites in the project.
Back to topMiniature Golf
Garnet Carter patented his version of miniature golf, called Tom Thumb Golf, in the 1920s. The attraction was tied to the Lookout Mountain tourism boom near Chattanooga and helped popularize miniature golf as a roadside amusement.
Back to topMountain Dew
Mountain Dew has deep East Tennessee roots. Barney and Ally Hartman developed the early version of the drink in Knoxville, originally as a mixer, before the brand grew into one of America's best-known soft drinks.
Back to topTouchscreen Technology
Dr. G. Samuel Hurst, connected with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, developed early touch sensor technology and founded Elographics, later known as Elo. The company's work helped move touchscreen technology from research settings into everyday use.
Back to topMoonPie
The MoonPie was created by Chattanooga Bakery and became one of Tennessee's most famous snack foods. The marshmallow-and-graham-cracker treat has been associated with Chattanooga for more than a century.
Back to topIdleAir
IdleAir, originally IdleAire, grew out of Knoxville as a truck stop electrification system. The idea allowed long-haul drivers to turn off diesel engines while still using heat, cooling, power, internet, and entertainment during rest periods.
Back to topKrystal Hamburgers
Krystal was founded in Chattanooga by Rody Davenport Jr. and J. Glenn Sherrill. The small square hamburgers became a Southern fast-food staple and helped make Krystal one of the region's most recognizable restaurant names.
Back to topTow Truck
The towing industry traces its roots to Chattanooga, where Ernest Holmes Sr. developed the first practical tow truck after helping recover a friend's automobile. Chattanooga is now home to the International Towing Museum.
Back to topVeinViewer
VeinViewer technology was developed by Memphis-based Luminetx to help medical workers see veins beneath the skin using near-infrared light. The tool made it easier to locate veins for blood draws and IV placement.
Back to topTypewriter Ribbon
George Kerr Anderson of Memphis received U.S. Patent No. 349,026 for improvements to inking ribbons for type-writing machines. His patent is part of Tennessee's lesser-known contribution to office technology.
Back to topSelf-Service Grocery Store
Piggly Wiggly opened in Memphis in 1916 and helped popularize the self-service grocery model. Instead of handing a list to a clerk, shoppers selected items themselves, a change that reshaped grocery shopping.
Back to topCheck Into Cash
Check Into Cash began in Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1993 and became one of the early national names in the payday advance industry. This entry is best understood as a Tennessee-born business concept rather than a traditional invention.
Back to topGoo Goo Cluster
The Goo Goo Cluster was created at the Standard Candy Company in Nashville. It is widely known as America's first combination candy bar, bringing caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts, and milk chocolate together in one candy.
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