#OnThisDay: Oct. 8 – Oct. 15, 2020

Oct. 8, 2020 – Discovery Park of America is filled with artifacts, replicas, history, science, art and more. Our mission is to inspire children and adults to see beyond, and we do so by sharing educational content online and throughout our museum.

We share weekly updates on anniversaries and significant moments in history, and where you can find items related to these dates through our museum and heritage park.

Liberty Hall

• Oct. 10, 1997 (23 years ago) – John Tanner received an award from Naval Support Activity Memphis.
• Oct. 15, 1781 (239th anniversary) – Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrendered 8,000 British soldiers to a larger Franco-America force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution.

STEM Landing

• Oct. 10, 1968 (52nd anniversary) – A crawler-transporter moved a Saturn V rocket to the launch pad for Apollo 8, the first manned Saturn V mission. Crawler-transporters are the biggest self-propelled land vehicles.
• Oct. 11, 1968 (52nd anniversary) – Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission, was launched with astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Jr.; Donn F. Eisele; and Walter Cunningham aboard. The crew of Apollo 7 conducted an 11-day orbit of Earth, during which the crew transmitted the first live television broadcasts from orbit.

Natural History Gallery

• Oct. 14, 2020 – National Fossil Day: This day was established to promote the scientific and educational values of fossils.

Freedom Square: Walk of Heroes

• Oct. 10, 1957 (63rd anniversary) – Ayn Rand’s fourth and final novel was published. Atlas Shrugged included elements of science fiction, mystery and romance, and it contained Rand’s most extensive statement of objectivism in any of her works of fiction.

Transportation Gallery

• Oct. 12, 1915 (105th anniversary) – Ford Motor Company manufactured it’s one millionth automobile.

Reelfoot Room

• Oct. 14, 1890 (130th birthday) – Sabin Photos – Verne Sabin was born is Champaign, Illinois.

International/National Holidays

• Oct. 12, 2020 – National Farmer’s Day
• Oct. 14, 2020 – National Fossil Day

Did you know?

Oct. 9, 2020 – Discovery Park of America’s statue of Ayn Rand, standing tall next to historic icons from history like Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Thomas Jefferson, generates a variety of reactions from guests. Responses range from pleasantly surprised to outright appalled among those who know of her work, to a moment of discovery for those who don’t.

So why is this statue, which seems unassociated with the other figures it stands with, here in the park? Robert Kirkland, who first came up with the idea for a center of education in Northwest Tennessee, had great respect for Rand and wished to see her honored for the influence she’d had on his life. Kirkland, who died in 2015 at age 77, was an outspoken supporter of Rand and was particularly interested in her bestselling book, “Atlas Shrugged.” Kirkland is even listed as a producer for the second and third part of the film trilogy based on her novel.

“…Objectivism as, ‘the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his own absolute.'”

Ayn Rand promoted the idea of “rational selfishness” in her controversial philosophy, named Objectivism, and she spent years refining and publicly debating its core concepts until her death in 1982. The Ayn Rand Institute describes her philosophy as a way of life that involves seeking reason before whim, working hard to achieve a life of purpose and self-esteem and pursuing your own happiness as the highest moral aim. Objectivism champions the concept that if we treat others fairly and trade “value for value,” individuals will prosper. Rand’s statue at Discovery Park features her in a powerful pose, holding her hip with one arm and a book with the other, and includes a plaque that presents the definition of Objectivism as, “the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his own absolute.”

Rand’s detractors argued her philosophy was selfish and included hypocrisies that paint the image of an unrealistic world. She also received massive negative feedback when she bluntly dismissed religion, arguing that it took away from mankind’s image as independent and powerful beings. Rand never fit neatly into a political party and often made statements that caused members of all factions to turn against her. In today’s explosive political climate, Rand’s philosophy is sometimes cited, resulting in her legacy being both supported and slandered in media to this day.

Controversial figures such as Rand can be used as an opportunity for guests to “see beyond” and evaluate their own beliefs, whether they align with other’s views or not. You never know what you may discover at Discovery Park of America.

Aug. 5, 2020 – The Historical Theater Academy is about to gear up again on Tuesday nights, and we wanted to sit down with a current student of the program to get the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes during the program.

Linus Pulley, a junior at Fulton Independent High School and current participant in the Historical Theater Academy, was recently cast as a main character in a music video by an up-and-coming country band, Bexar. We sat down with Pulley and asked him some questions about how Historical Theater Academy impacted his life and how it prepared him for this role in the video.

How did you hear about Historical Theater Academy, and what made you sign up for it?  

I participated in Jenny Virgin’s summer workshops at the Masquerade Theatre for many years. After she retired from the program, she announced the Historical Theater Academy (HTA) at Discovery Park. My mom told me about it and I entered the class to participate in theater again.

What has been the best thing about being involved in Historical Theater Academy?

The best part of HTA is the whole experience. Being able to create an entire show from the ground up, being able to act in that show, and making great friends along the way are some of the highlights. 

Why should students in grade 6 – 12 sign up for Historical Theater Academy? 

Students should sign up for HTA for a one-of-a-kind experience. Being involved in every single aspect of a new show is amazing. 

You recently were the main character in the music video, “Again,” by the band Bexar. How did HTA prepare you for this role? 

Historical Theater Academy taught me many acting skills that I still use today. The way I am able to convey emotion without speaking is a skill I picked up through HTA and other acting. HTA has also taught me to listen to my director. 

What piece of advice would you give your peers who are thinking about participating in Historical Theater Academy?  

I would tell them that it doesn’t matter if they have acting experience or not. HTA is a place for beginners and experts alike. 

Anything else you would like to share about your experience in HTA? 

I would like to say that HTA is the best program I have ever participated in. Building a show, acting in it, and making friends are some of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

Watch the music video for “Again” by Bexar and see Linus’s role in the video.

Jun. 24, 2020 – As we prepare to kick off the 2020 outdoor summer concert series, “Rhythm on the Rails,” on Fri., June 26, we are faced with a very different world than last year’s successful concert series. From employees wearing face masks to adult beverages being served to guests at their seats, Lauren Jones, Discovery Park’s director of special events, and others at the museum and heritage park have been hard at work for weeks to create a safe place so guests can sit outside and listen to live music.

Lauren took a few minutes to answer some questions about putting together such a big event in the unprecedented times we live as everyone adapts their behavior due to the pandemic.

Question: Why did Discovery Park decide to proceed with a live music series?

Having an outdoor summer music series near the Depot is perfect because families can enjoy the wide-open space of the park, catch some fish, eat good food and listen to great talent while maintaining a safe, six-foot distance from other guests. We’ve had many of our members and people who live in the communities around Union City let us know they are eager for us to continue with the series, and after such a successful reopening of Discovery Park earlier this month, we decided we could apply those same health and safety policies and continue with the popular event.

Question: What sort of things are being done differently this year?

All Discovery Park teammates will be wearing masks, and we’re not having bars like we have had in the past. We’ll have enough of our folks working that can take drink orders from guests who will be able to spread out if they choose. We’ll also have a lot of hand sanitizer available for everyone. Our teammates also have their temperature taken before the shift begins and, of course, no one who has been exposed to anyone with Covid-19 is allowed to work.

Question: How have you known what policies make sense for Discovery Park?

We’ve been closely following recommendations from Gov. Bill Lee’s Economic Recovery Group, led by the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development Commissioner Mark Ezell. By taking the Tennessee Pledge, as they call it, we’re part of a bigger group of companies and organizations who are working with the medical community and state government to safely reboot Tennessee’s economy.

All of us here have found the Tennessee Pledge to be a careful, measured approach to get Discovery Park open once again while creating a safe environment for our teammates and guests.

Question: Who are some of the bands and performers booked for the series?

We’re kicking things off big with a performance by the Grammy award-winning blues band, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. Other bands will be performing throughout the music series, including Tyler Goodson; Coby Watts and the AC43 Band; Kimberlie Helton Band; Johnny Mac and the Heart Attacks; Seeing Red; Clark Beckham; Brent Hinson and Matt Crosson; Steve Short and Keith Brown; Olivia Faye; Katie Thorpe Tohn and Kicking Keys with Roger and Barry; and Blair and Madison.

Question: What kind of food will be available?

The first night of “Rhythm on the Rails” is blues and brats night. Sabin’s Café will be grilling delicious brats, burgers and hot dogs for guests to purchase. The rest of the summer concert series will have a variety of food by Sabin’s Café and food trucks.

Full Schedule of “Rhythm on the Rails”

June 8, 2020 – If you are a follower of Discovery Park of America on any social media, or if you are subscribed to our newsletter, you may have seen an increase of posts and articles on the new agriculture exhibition, “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival.” This exciting new exhibit is scheduled to open Dec. 5, 2020.

It takes a lot of hard work, research, time and organization to build an exhibit. Jennifer Wildes, who is the park’s exhibits and collections director, is the liaison between the partners, exhibit designers and internal staff to make sure this exhibit is exactly up to Discovery Park standards and that the facts are shared. We asked her how organizations and individuals who are passionate about agriculture can get involved.

What is “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival?

“Agriculture: Innovating for Our Survival” is a new, permanent exhibit that will open in the Simmons Bank Ag Center in December of this year. It will focus on telling the story of innovation in agriculture and explain why innovating was and is so vital to the agriculture world — especially as today’s farmers are navigating the challenge to provide more food, fuel and fiber to a growing population while using less of our shared resources. We have a robust section on our website dedicated to the exhibit, and if anyone is interested in finding out more about it, they can visit www.discoveryparkofamerica.com/agriculture.

How can organizations and individuals participate in this new exhibit?

We are still raising funds through our development department and are happy to meet with interested people one-on-one to discuss a gift to the new exhibit. We still need around $90,000 to be able to complete the exhibit in its entirety and would be grateful for support of any amount. An option for individuals rather than organizations would be to become a Champion of Agriculture.

If someone chooses to become a Champion of Agriculture, what do they need to do to become involved?

A Champion of Agriculture refers to an individual or family that wishes to make a contribution of any amount towards the exhibit. Those greatly appreciated donations can be easily made by clicking the Champion of Agriculture link available on the exhibit’s section of our website or by visiting discoveryparkofamerica.com/agchampion.

Will there be any sort of recognition if someone chooses to become a Champion of Agriculture?

Absolutely. As soon as visitors walk through the doors into the new exhibit, they will be greeted with a visual display of givers from all levels, including Champions of Agriculture. In fact, when making a Champion of Agriculture contribution on our website, there is a section where donors can tell us exactly how they would like their recognition to be worded for that display.

What are you looking forward to the most about this exciting new exhibit on agriculture?

Honestly, it is so hard to choose. Overall, I think I am most excited to see our visitor’s response. It is a path that I traveled myself during the development of the exhibit. I do not come from an agriculture background, so I was ignorant on a lot of topics that we present within the exhibit. Agriculture’s diversity — in the way of workers, jobs, ideas, and practices — is much more than I ever imagined. I have been able to learn so much and developed a great appreciation for those who work in the agriculture field, and I can’t wait for our visitors to experience the same.

May 28, 2020 – When “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival,” Discovery Park’s permanent exhibit dedicated to telling the story of innovation in agriculture opens on Dec. 5, 2020, a memorable part will no doubt be the “faces of farming” that will be on display featuring photographs taken around the region by photographer Luke Johnson. “If your first thought of a farmer is of the stereotype that we see in popular culture, the reality may just surprise you,” said Jennifer Wildes, Discovery Park’s exhibits director. “The men and women who chose to dedicate their lives to providing food, fuel and fiber for families around the world vary in age, gender and race just like other industries.” In anticipation of the opening of the exhibit, Discovery Park has created an online gallery at Discoveryparkofamerica.com/facesoffarming to share just a few of the hundreds of photos that have been taken of farmers, ranchers and others who are part of the agriculture industry today and who will be included in the exhibit.

The exhibit will open Dec. 5, 2020 in the Simmons Bank Ag Center.

Major sponsors of this exhibit are Nutrien Ag Solutions and Simmons Bank. To learn about more of our sponsors, click here.

For a current list of Champions of Agriculture, visit the website.

To partner with Discovery Park on this very important exhibit, email Mary Nita Bondurant at mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.com or call 731-676-3556.