Remember when the exhibits team at Discovery Park opened the cornerstone box found at the historic Dresden First United Methodist Church?

From Jan. 21 to May 21, 2023 all 24 artifacts found inside that box will be on display here at our museum.

The box had been discovered during the demolition of the church that was damaged beyond repair in December 2021, during one of the worst outbreaks of tornadoes ever recorded in the United States. It was found bricked inside a part of the church that was dedicated in 1924 and was previously unknown to many of today’s church members. Once discovered, demolition halted as those on hand began work to carefully extract the box from behind the building’s cornerstone. Wayne McCreight, a church trustee, contacted Discovery Park to ask for help safely extracting the contents of this gripping find.

“Of all the artifacts we discovered, the most meaningful for me was a typed letter from the church’s pastor at the time, S. L. Jewell,” said Wildes. “It included a short history of the church, and he noted that the letter had been ‘hastily written for information of someone who may in coming years look in the box.’”

The majority of the items were well preserved with the most unexpected item being an ear of corn. A letter wrapped around the ear noted it was of the Little Willice variety and was placed in the box by R. E. Ellis, the Weakley County agriculture agent. Ellis wrote, “May God’s richest blessings be with each farmer and those that depend on farmers as long as good old Weakley County continues to be populated with people.” Other items that will be on display include newspapers, hymnals and historic church documents. These items will be seen by the public for the first time in 100 years.

Since removing the items from the cornerstone box, our collections team has been hard at work conserving the materials and safely preparing them for viewing. “Paper documents had been folded inside the box for a century, so they needed to undergo a humidification, drying, and flattening process before being placed on display,” said Jennifer Wildes, Discovery Park’s senior director of collections and exhibits. “A small amount of mold had to also be removed from certain hymnals—a result of moisture produced by the ear of corn as it desiccated over the years inside the box.”

“We feel honored that the Dresden First United Methodist Church allowed Discovery Park to be a part of this special discovery and for trusting us to retrieve, care for and display their cornerstone box items,” said Scott Williams, the museum’s president and CEO. “I know many of our guests will be as excited to see these items as I am.

Contributions to the rebuilding of Dresden First United Methodist Church may be made online by visiting GoFundMe.com and searching for “Dresden FUMC Rebuilding Effort,” or checks may be mailed to Building & Renovation Fund, Dresden First United Methodist Church, 411 Morrow Street, Dresden, TN 38225.

“Inside the Cornerstone Box” will be at Discovery Park Jan. 21 to May 21, 2023 and is free with admission or membership.

Photo Caption: Jennifer Wildes, Discovery Park’s senior director of collections and exhibits, examining a fragile document found within the cornerstone box.

Photo Caption: A photograph of 2-year-old Norma Leone Lewis was discovered inside a hymnal that was removed from the cornerstone box.

Union City, Tenn.—Discovery Park of America and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge will host the 2023 Tennessee Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 5 p.m. The dinner is sponsored in part by Obion County Tourism, Ducks Unlimited and the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge. Winners will receive two free tickets to Discovery Park in Northwest Tennessee so they can spend the day exploring in advance of the ceremony. Additional tickets may be purchased at the museum’s group rate at the ticket counter.

Numerous free activities will take place on Sunday at the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge for winners and their families, such as canoe trips, archery, herp hike and a live bird of prey and snake program.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a dynamic art- and science-based curriculum that teaches students wetland and waterfowl conservation.

The program encourages students to explore their natural world, invites them to investigate biology and wildlife management principles and challenges them to express and share what they have learned with others. The program uses the environment as the theme to creatively teach core subjects. Students are encouraged to design a duck stamp depicting a native North American waterfowl species in their natural habitat and submit their artwork for the competition.

The competition is open to any child in grades K-12 in Tennessee. First, second, third or honorable mention ribbons are presented to 100 Tennessee students — 25 in each grade group (K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12). First, second and third place awards will be presented to 36 competitors who receive a special engraved Junior Duck Stamp plaque.

The Tennessee Best of Show winner receives the Jeannette Rudy $1,000 college scholarship, a framed Federal Duck Stamp print and his/her artwork featured on the state waterfowl stamp. Awards are provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. The Tennessee Best of Show will also go on to compete in the national Junior Duck Stamp contest.

More information and details about the contest, including how to enter, are available at fws.gov/refuge/reelfoot.

Discovery Park will open a permanent waterfowl exhibit in 2023. “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway.”

When opened, the permanent exhibit will use a combination of stories, three-dimensional objects, interactive elements and hands-on experiences to tell the stories of waterfowl hunting and conservation. Ducks Unlimited, the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, is the premier sponsor of the exhibit. Other partners in the exhibit include Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Five Oaks Lodge, Final Flight Outfitters, Inc., First Choice Farm and Lawn, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Deupree Family Foundation, Commercial Bank and the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. Additional partners will be announced soon.

“Being asked to host the 2023 Tennessee Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony at Discovery Park of America is an honor and privilege. We’re a natural fit given our location along the ancient Mississippi Flyway near historic Reelfoot Lake, and our commitment to inspire children and adults to see beyond through our daily interactive STEAM educational initiatives,” said Dr. Emalee Buttrey, Discovery Park’s director of education, programming and museum experience. “We look forward to welcoming these young artists and their guests from across Tennessee to what is arguably the most important region in the state for waterfowl conservation.”

Photo Caption: Discovery Park of America and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge will host the winners of the 2023 Tennessee Junior Duck Stamp Awards on Saturday, April 15, 2023. In addition to exploring the Regional Gallery and other exhibits in the 100,000-square-foot museum and 50-acre heritage park, winners are invited to an award ceremony at 5 p.m. Additional free activities will take place on Sunday at the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.

We’re so excited to announce that we’re partnering with Magnolia Place Assisted Living once again. Children 17 and younger will receive free admission to Discovery Park of America throughout the month of January 2023. Adult general admission will be just $10 in January to kick off the museum and heritage park’s 10th birthday.

In celebrating our 10th birthday, we’ve included a couple updates to two of our most popular experiences — Discovery Theater and the Water Tables in the Simmons Bank Children’s Exploration Gallery.

The designers of our new Water Tables have opted for a larger experience that snakes throughout the entire gallery, incorporating several new interactive activities. We’re working to include a fishing pond, interactive rain clouds, moveable aqueducts, many new water toys and an activity that encourages children to direct fog using a series of pipes.

Another updated space, our Discovery Theater, was recently upgraded to incorporate a state-of-the-art, laser-illuminated 3D projection system, the latest high-efficiency 40,000-lumen laser projector on the market and an advanced surround-sound system. In 2023, we’re continuing to incorporate two award-winning 3D films throughout each day. “Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D” uses the latest in CGI technology to follow a team of paleoecologists on a quest to understand the southern continent’s profound transformation from a warm and bio-diverse Mesozoic to the frozen desert we know today. “Tiny Giants 3D” is an adventure film created by the award-winning nature filmmakers Michael Gunton (“Africa, One Life,” “Madagascar”) and Mark Brownlow (“Planet Earth,” “South Pacific”) and narrated by English actor, broadcaster and comedian Stephen Fry.

Our new greenhouses and the Farm Credit Mid-America Education Pavilion will also open in 2023 and will provide hands-on educational spaces for visitors to learn more about the horticulture of the region. Another new, permanent exhibit that will open in 2023, “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway,” is being created in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. The exhibit will use three-dimensional objects, interactive elements and hands-on experiences to tell the story of waterfowl hunting, conservation and the ecosystem of the Mississippi Flyway.

Opening Jan. 21 to May 21, 2023, is a temporary exhibit, “Inside the Cornerstone Box.” It will feature items the Discovery Park exhibits team discovered inside a cornerstone box that was found in the rubble of Dresden First United Methodist Church of Dresden, Tennessee, after the devastating tornado in 2021. From June 1 to Oct. 29, 2023, The Southern Artist Showcase gallery will feature the work of Kimberly Greene-Bugg, award-winning artist and member of the Oneida Nation on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. Residing in Obion County, Tennessee, Bugg is one of the nation’s top Native American artists, and her art will be displayed in conjunction with Discovery Park’s inaugural Northwest Tennessee Native American Education Pow Wow to be held Oct. 27 – 29, 2023. The Northwest Tennessee Photography Club Showcase will be updated in June and December 2023, and an additional exhibit, exclusive to Discovery Park and featuring photographs by outdoorsman Seth Dortch of Union City, Tennessee, will be on display Aug. 11, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The photographs in this exhibit were taken during waterfowl hunts along the Mississippi Flyway and in the Reelfoot Lake region.

We have new hours in 2023, too, that will provide more opportunities for you to explore. From January through February and September through December, we will be open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. From March through August, we will be open seven days a week. Days and hours of operation along with more information to plan a visit can be found at DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/visit.

For a complete list of exhibits, programs and events in 2023, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com.

Union City, Tennessee— Thanks to a partnership with Magnolia Place Assisted Living, children 17 and younger will receive free admission to Discovery Park of America throughout the month of January 2023. Adult general admission will be just $10 in January to kick off the museum and heritage park’s 10th birthday.

There will also be many other opportunities for children and adults to celebrate Discovery Park’s 10th birthday throughout the year. Included are updates to two of the museum’s most popular experiences — Discovery Theater and the Water Tables in the Simmons Bank Children’s Exploration Gallery.

The designers of the new Water Tables have opted for a larger experience that snakes throughout the entire gallery and incorporates many new interactive activities. New elements added include a fishing pond, interactive rain clouds, moveable aqueducts, many new water toys and an activity that encourages children to direct fog using a series of pipes.

Another updated space, The Discovery Theater, was recently upgraded to incorporate a state-of-the-art, laser-illuminated 3D projection system, the latest high-efficiency 40,000-lumen laser projector on the market and an advanced surround-sound system. The ability to show 3-D films will provide significant new programming capabilities in the theater. In 2023, two award-winning 3D films will be shown throughout the day. “Dinosaurs of Antarctica 3D” uses the latest in CGI technology to follow a team of paleoecologists on a quest to understand the southern continent’s profound transformation from a warm and bio-diverse Mesozoic to the frozen desert we know today. “Tiny Giants 3D” is an adventure film created by the award-winning nature filmmakers Michael Gunton (“Africa, One Life,” “Madagascar”) and Mark Brownlow (“Planet Earth,” “South Pacific”) and narrated by English actor, broadcaster and comedian Stephen Fry.

Discovery Park’s new greenhouses and the Farm Credit Mid-America Education Pavilion will also open in 2023 and will provide hands-on educational spaces for visitors to learn more about the horticulture of the region. A new permanent exhibit that will open in 2023, “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway,” is being created in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. The exhibit will use three-dimensional objects, interactive elements and hands-on experiences to tell the story of waterfowl hunting, conservation and the ecosystem of the Mississippi Flyway.

Open Jan. 21 to May 21, 2023, is a temporary exhibit, “Inside the Cornerstone Box.” It will feature items the Discovery Park exhibits team discovered inside a cornerstone box that was found in the rubble of Dresden First United Methodist Church of Dresden, Tennessee, after the devastating tornado in 2021. From June 1 to Oct. 29, 2023, The Southern Artist Showcase gallery will feature the work of Kimberly Greene-Bugg, award-winning artist and member of the Oneida Nation on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. Residing in Obion County, Tennessee, Bugg is one of the nation’s top Native American artists, and her art will be displayed in conjunction with Discovery Park’s inaugural Northwest Tennessee Native American Education Pow Wow to be held Oct. 27 – 29, 2023. The Northwest Tennessee Photography Club Showcase will be updated in June and December 2023, and an additional exhibit, exclusive to Discovery Park and featuring photographs by outdoorsman Seth Dortch of Union City, Tennessee, will be on display Aug. 11, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The photographs in this exhibit were taken during waterfowl hunts along the Mississippi Flyway and in the Reelfoot Lake region.

New hours in 2023 will also provide more opportunities to visit. From January through February and September through December, Discovery Park will be open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. From March through August, Discovery Park will be open seven days a week. Days and hours of operation along with more information to plan a visit can be found at DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/visit.

For a complete list of exhibits, programs and events in 2023, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com.

Photo Caption: Discovery Park of America Offers Free Admission for Children and $10 Admission for Adults Throughout the Month of January 2023

The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award recognizes individuals for their contributions to inspiring children and adults to see beyond.

Union City, Tennessee—Discovery Park of America has announced the honorees for the 2023 Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser that will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023. The award recognizes individuals whose work, like that of Discovery Park, brings enlightenment, inspiration and education to those whose lives they’ve touched.

The awards ceremony and fundraiser, emceed by Keli McAlister, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation public information officer, will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, philanthropists and others to celebrate the honorees, all of whom have deep roots in West Tennessee. The 2023 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award honorees are:

• Her Excellency Amy L. Bondurant, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
• Dr. Keith Carver, chancellor for the University of Tennessee at Martin
• James Ross, president & CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare
• The Honorable John S. Tanner, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Ambassador Amy L. Bondurant’s career spans more than 45 years of leadership in government, business, law, and nonprofit governance. Ambassador Bondurant’s tenure as the first female U.S. Ambassador (1997-2001) to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, spanned both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. Ambassador Bondurant served as Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, as a senior partner in a major Washington, DC law firm, on corporate boards such as Rolls Royce in London, England and on nonprofit boards such as the American Hospital in Paris, France. Bondurant was born in Union City, Tennessee, and raised in Hickman, Kentucky.

Dr. Keith Carver began his duties as the 11th chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin on January 3, 2017. Dr. Carver has worked with the UT System for 24 years and served as executive assistant to the UT president from January 2011-December 2016 before accepting the post at UT Martin. Prior to his position with the UT System, he held various positions on the UT campuses in Knoxville, Martin, and Memphis, which included serving as interim vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis and as assistant vice chancellor for development at UT Martin. He was born and raised in Alamo, Tennessee.

James Ross, now CEO, joined West Tennessee Healthcare in 1985 as a registered nurse in the surgical intensive care unit. Positions held during his career are critical care coordinator, cardiac services manager, director of CCU, administrator of the West Tennessee Surgery Center, executive director of physician services, director of case management/social services and vice president of hospital services. In 2009, he was named chief operating officer for West Tennessee Healthcare, and in 2016 was named by the board of trustees as the acting president and chief executive officer. He was named president and chief executive officer with full authority for the organization in 2017. He is from Henderson, Tennessee.

Former Congressman John Tanner of Union City, Tennessee served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 22 years where he represented Tennessee’s 8th congressional district. While in Congress, Congressman Tanner served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, where he chaired both the Social Security Subcommittee and the Trade Subcommittee. He also chaired the U.S. House delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the alliance’s legislative branch, for several years. In November 2008, legislators from all NATO member nations elected Tanner to serve a two-year term as esteemed president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

“When Robert and Jenny Kirkland cut the ribbon opening Discovery Park nearly ten years ago, they envisioned an organization with a mission of inspiring children and adults to want to learn more about the world around them,” said Scott Williams, the museum’s president and CEO. “As we celebrate our first decade, it’s also fitting that we honor these impressive Discovery Award winners. They embody that same mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond.”

The names and biographies of the 2023 honorees will be added to a kiosk at Discovery Park with those from previous years.

The event will feature entertainment from a variety of musicians from the region and a served dinner prepared by award-winning chefs David Jones and Karla Lawrence of Artisan Kitchen of Paducah. In addition to complimentary champagne upon arrival, a cash bar will be available.

A silent and live auction along with opportunities to contribute to the Kirkland Scholarship Fund will also take place during the evening. Thanks to the Kirkland Scholarship, students from all K-12 schools with 50% of the students qualifying for free or reduced lunches qualify for scholarships that pay for 100% of the ticket price to visit Discovery Park.

The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser will be held at Discovery Park of America, (830 Everett Blvd., Union City, Tennessee,) on Saturday, March 4, 2023 with cocktails beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the awards dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Information on tickets and tables can be found at DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/gala2023.

Caption: Keli McAlister to emcee the 2023 gala.

Image caption: The 2023 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award winners (l to r): Her Excellency Amy L. Bondurant, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Keith Carver, chancellor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, James Ross, president & CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare and The Honorable John S. Tanner, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

We have announced the honorees for the 2023 Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser that will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023. The award recognizes individuals whose work, like that of Discovery Park, brings enlightenment, inspiration and education to those whose lives they’ve touched.

It’s also one of our most popular events and one we look forward to hosting every year. The event sells out quickly each year, so you’ll want to get your tickets or table now, before they are gone.

This year, the awards ceremony will be emceed by Keli McAlister, a popular event host and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation public information officer.

The 2023 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award honorees are:

• Her Excellency Amy L. Bondurant, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of Economic
  Cooperation and Development
• Dr. Keith Carver, chancellor for the University of Tennessee at Martin
• James Ross, president & CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare
• The Honorable John S. Tanner, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Ambassador Amy L. Bondurant’s career spans more than 45 years of leadership in government, business, law, and nonprofit governance. Ambassador Bondurant’s tenure as the first female U.S. Ambassador (1997-2001) to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France spanned both the Clinton and Bush Administrations. Ambassador Bondurant served as Senior Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, as a senior partner in a major Washington, DC law firm, on corporate boards such as Rolls Royce in London, England  and on nonprofit boards such as the American Hospital in Paris, France. Bondurant was born in Union City, Tennessee and raised in Hickman, Kentucky.

Dr. Keith Carver began his duties as the 11th chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin on January 3, 2017. Carver has worked with the UT System for 24 years and served as executive assistant to the UT president from January 2011-December 2016 before accepting the post at UT Martin. Prior to his position with the UT System, he held various positions on the UT campuses in Knoxville, Martin, and Memphis, which included serving as interim vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis and as assistant vice chancellor for development at UT Martin. He was born and raised in Alamo, Tennessee.

James Ross, now CEO, joined West Tennessee Healthcare in 1985 as a registered nurse in the surgical intensive care unit. Positions held during his career are critical care coordinator, cardiac services manager, director of CCU, administrator of the West Tennessee Surgery Center, executive director of physician services, director of case management/social services and vice president of hospital services. In 2009, he was named Chief Operating Officer for West Tennessee Healthcare, and in 2016 was named by the Board of Trustees as the acting President and CEO. Ross was named President and CEO with full authority for the organization in 2017. He is from Henderson, Tennessee.

Former Congressman John Tanner of Union City, Tennessee served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 22 years where he represented Tennessee’s 8th congressional district. While in Congress, Tanner served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, where he chaired both the Social Security Subcommittee and the Trade Subcommittee. He also chaired the U.S. House delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the alliance’s legislative branch, for several years. In November 2008, legislators from all NATO member nations elected Tanner to serve a two-year term as esteemed President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The names and biographies of the 2023 honorees will be added to a kiosk at Discovery Park with those from previous years.

The event will be held here at Discovery Park, (830 Everett Blvd., Union City, Tennessee,) on Saturday, March 4, 2023, with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and and the awards dinner at 7:00 p.m. The gala and fundraiser will also feature a silent auction, entertainment performed by regional musicians and more.

Information about tickets and tables can be found here.

Image caption: The 2023 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award winners (l to r): Amy L. Bondurant, U.S. Ambassador (Ret’d); Dr. Keith Carver, Chancellor, The University of Tennessee at Martin; James Ross, West Tennessee Healthcare CEO; and John Tanner, U.S. representative for Tennessee’s 8th congressional district, serving from 1989 until 2011.

Caption: Keli McAlister to emcee the 2023 gala. McAlister serves as a Public Information Officer for the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation. She works directly with local, state, national and international
media as well as law enforcement agencies and community groups across the
area on behalf of the Bureau.

Union City, Tennessee—Discovery Park of America has announced that the museum and heritage park in Union City, Tennessee, will participate in the Museums for All program beginning in January 2023. This initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM). The program aims to ensure that all children and adults have access to high-quality museum experiences.

Individuals or groups of four participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can present an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at the Discovery Park ticket counter and receive complimentary general admission tickets for that day.

Several research studies from the museum field show that early access to informal educational opportunities, like those offered by museums like Discovery Park, has a positive effect on children’s development and academic performance. As a result, IMLS and ACM partnered to launch the Museums for All initiative in 2014 in service to both organizations’ strategic goal of providing greater access to museums for all children and adults. Thanks to the success of the program, free and reduced admission is available today to eligible members of the public at more than 1,000 museums and other institutions across the country.

“Providing access to a world-class educational facility was the vision of our founders, the late Robert and Jenny Kirkland, when they decided to build a state-of-the-art museum and heritage park in rural Northwest Tennessee. The Museums for All program aligns nicely with our mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond,” said Dr. Emalee Buttrey, Discovery Park’s director of education, programming and museum experience. “Our goal is for those who visit to leave Discovery Park having experienced something new that ignites a lifelong desire to learn more. The decision to participate in the Museums for All program will allow us to welcome a greater number of guests by eliminating financial barriers and increasing accessibility.”

Visitors to Discovery Park experience the visual, literary, music and performing arts; interactive STEM exhibits; opportunities to learn about the cultural heritage of the region and more. This is achieved by convening public programs and interactive learning opportunities and the presentation of exhibits and live performances.

More information about planning a trip to Discovery Park can be found at discoveryparkofamerica.com/visit. A complete list of museums participating in the free admission program can be found at museums4all.org.

Photo Caption: Discovery Park of America has announced that the museum and heritage park in Union City, Tennessee, will participate in the Museums for All program beginning January 2023. This initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM).