Curious Nashville

mack@wpln.org

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What happened to the fallen Mercury bronze atop Union Station?

July 25, 2026

If you know where to look, there's a god frolicking amid Nashville's skyline. It's the mythological messenger Mercury, gleaming at the top of the Union Station clock tower. But he's had his share of ups and downs, and once fell in 1952.WPLN listener Christina called to ask:"We have a very primitive replica up there. But the original, I'm wondering where it could be!?"Curious Nashville chases down what happened next, some interesting ties to local history and landmarks, and even an infamous st...

Why is there a tiny typo on the Tennessee driver's license?

June 20, 2026

Have you ever looked closely at your Tennessee driver’s license? There might be something surprising in the fine print. Curious Nashville listener Sam Barocas used his microscope to find it. And then he asked:Why is there a microscopic typo on the Tennessee driver’s license?In some instances — likely on millions of licenses — a thin ribbon of text reads “The VolunDeer State.” With a ‘d.’Among the theories: It’s a genuine mistake. It’s an intentional security feature. It’s an easter egg tucked...

How did kudzu vines first get introduced to Tennessee?

June 13, 2026

Kudzu is a woody, hairy vine with distinct three-pronged leaves. During the blooming season in late summer, the plant produces grape-smelling purple flowers. And, always, it has a way of crowding out other plants."Kudzu is like a glamorous villain ... ‘the vine that ate the South,' " says Ben Nanny, the conservation director at Ijams Nature Center.This ubiquitous vine prompted this question:How did that annoying "kudzu" first get introduced to the area?The answer ties back to the late 1800s, ...