You do not have to be a historian to understand that the state of Tennessee has a vast and visible living history. A quick trip around downtown Murfreesboro by car, bicycle or on foot will expose the many historic plaques and signs that explain the area’s remarkable past. As residents of Murfreesboro, We are both blessed and cursed to have the Stones River National Battlefield as well as a portion of the Trail of Tears residing within our city. These places of significance remind us that others fought, died and were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, for the freedoms and liberty we immigrant residents enjoy today.
Plaques, statues, signs and historical buildings play an important role in helping us learn about the rich histories of our states and cities. Tennessee, sometimes referred to as the Tri-Star State, unfortunately has a significant problem with how it displays its historic plaques. While traveling around Tennessee, it has come to my attention that most if not all of the tri-star logos on Tennessee’s historic plaques are not in the proper alignment.
The directive asserting the orientation of the tri-star logo was made law in 1905 by the Tennessee legislature: whereas the highest star shall be the one nearest the upper confined corner of the flag. I have taken note of the tri-star logos in different orientations on these plaques throughout Middle Tennessee. The Sparta Rock House features one of these plaques, #2D 35.
The orientation appears to be exactly mirror-opposite of the intended orientation. I wonder if this error was because the maker of these plaques made the mold incorrectly, or for another reason I am not aware of.
Recently, I reached out to the Tennessee Historical Society about this finding and received this response via email, along with an image of the official alignment: “As you have discovered, many people do not check to see what the official alignment of the three stars is before they create plaques and other images featuring this element from the Tennessee State Flag. . . . The variations from the official alignment are the result of a failure to do proper research.”
As my investigation continues into the Tennessee tri-star logo, I have come to learn that it is regularly not displayed correctly, even by those who should know better.
The Tennessee flag has been documented flying upside down at the State Capitol on numerous occasions. I recently visited the state of Tennessee’s historical commission website: (tn.gov/environment/about-tdec/tennessee-historical-commission.html), where low and behold historic plaque #3A 223 is displayed in all of its glory with the Tri-Star logo in the improper orientation.
I reached out by email to Linda Wynn, the assistant director for the State Historical Markers Programs, hoping to receive a response or explanation.
My concern and annoyance does not end with our state’s administration not knowing how to properly display the State’s tri-star logo. As I travel, I am constantly barraged by decal displays of the misaligned tri-star logo on vehicles. I’m sure the people who drive these cars and trucks are proud sons and daughters of Tennessee, the other decals these citizens display work to convince me of that. I urge anyone who wishes to display our great state’s tri-star logo to do their due diligence and research the logo’s proper orientation. Many of our northern-, eastern- and western-state neighbors seem to see the people of the southern states like Tennessee as under-educated, backward thinkers. Let’s work to show them we know enough to be better.
Sincerely,
Blake Becker
Murfreesboro
