Bristol is one of those unique cities divided between two states. In this case it is between Virginia and Tennessee. The town is also known as the birthplace of country music.

In the summer of 1927, Ralph Peer showed up on the Tennessee side of town and started recording country musicians for RCA Victor. In honor of the occasion a monument was placed (but on the Virginia side of town, but no one seemed to mind). We drove to see this Country Music Distribution Monument. Needless to say, it is a salute to minimalism. Only Jimmy Rogers and the Carter Family are featured.  Wow!

Since we always loved the idea of becoming archeologists, we are attracted to the  Gray Fossil Site and Museum. Most of the bones we saw are replicas. The real one are stored away for research purposes. Tours are given but we couldn’t leave Tickle in the car for too long. We did see the paleontologist at work cleaning bones.

We drove to Kingsport TN to lunch at the Riverfront Seafood Company. Yum! Afterwards we drove by a big, wooden statue of Davy Crockett. 

Next we landed at the Archie Campbell Museum In Bulls Gap TN. We were asked by a local if we knew anything about him and Jorge replied, “Hee Haw!”

Yes, he was an American comedian writer, and co-star of Hee Haw, a country-flavored variety show. He also recorded several hits for RCA Victor in the 1960’s. Archie was known for using Spoonerisms in his comical routines to great effect. We also found out that he was a very good painter. How about that!