state's history with short inscriptions. This pathway is actually divided into two main sections: a shorter section which provides a brief overview of the state's prehistory and precolonial history, beginning one billion years ago, and a shorter one which provides a more detailed history of the state from 1766 to 1996. A break in the wall symbolizes the division amongst the state's residents during the American Civil War. Each decade, from 1766 to 1996, is represented by a large granite pylon; these are also provided for the precolonial section, which read "One Billion Years Ago", "240 Million Years Ago", "10,000 BC", and "1600 AD", respectively. Monuments and memorials A number of monuments and memorials are located adjacent to the Pathway of History. The Statehood Memorial is located approximately on top of the approximate location of McNairy Spring, a hydrological sulfur spring that was used by settlers and residents of the area as a main source of water in the 18th and 19th centuries. This monument consists of a fountain representing the spring surrounded by a circular wall which contains sixteen stars. These represent Tennessee's status as the sixteenth state admitted to the Union, and information about Tennessee's statehood is also engraved in the wall. The Sulphur Springs Monument consists of three fountains flowing into a rock garden, and symbolizes the wetlands and wildlife of Tennessee. The Centennial Memorial commemorates the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition of 1897. There is also a monument to Tennesseans who served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. The World War II Memorial features a plaza that contains ten pillars etched with images and descriptions of the war relevant to the state. The pillars on the east represent events from the European and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern theaters, and the western pillars represent events from the Pacific Theater. The memorial also contains a granite globe suspended by water, and a bench with the names of the seven recipients of the Medal of Honor from Tennessee. The surface of the plaza contains gold stars honoring the 5,731 Tennesseans who died during the war. A time capsule on the plaza will be opened on November 11, 2045. History Site history Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is located near the site of the French Link, a natural salt lick which was fed by the McNairy Spring under the mall. French traders under the command of Charles Charleville established a trading