All active military service members, veterans and their guests receive free admission to Discovery Park for the event.

Union City, Tenn. – Discovery Park of America is hosting its annual Military History and Armed Forces Symposium on Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29.

The event will feature a variety of programs and interactive activities that explore the past, present and future of the American military. All active military service members, veterans and their guests will receive free admission to Discovery Park during both days of this event.

Sponsored by Union City Coca-Cola and Dixie Gun Works, the Military History and Armed Forces Symposium features presentations from special guests, static and active military equipment, vehicle demonstrations and gallery talks. Guests will also experience historical interpreters and living historians throughout the museum and park.

Friday has been planned with students in mind and will include a keynote by Cpl. John Henley. Born and raised in Boise City, Oklahoma, Henley entered the United States Marine Corps in 1969 and trained as a field artilleryman stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, with the 2nd Marine Division. In June 1970, Henley was attached to Battalion Landing Team 2/9 3rd Marine Division and served in Vietnam, Okinawa and the Philippines before he was honorably discharged in 1971. He went on to graduate from the Sunset School of Biblical Studies and served as a full-time minister for 42 years until his retirement in 2019.

A VIP reception will be held on Friday night to bring awareness to resources available to all military personnel. Operation Song, an organization of songwriters who work with veterans and active-duty military to tell their stories through song, will provide entertainment. The VIP reception is open to former and current members of the armed forces plus a guest.

Saturday’s keynote will be provided by Lt. Col. Bernard House, professor of military science at the University of Tennessee at Martin. House is also the overall leader of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps battalion at both Murray State University and the University of Tennessee at Martin. A native of Lexa, Arkansas, House was commissioned into the United States Army in 1997 from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University.

Lt. Col. Ron Powell (Ret.) will provide educational programming in the upper military gallery on Friday and Saturday. Serving as an Army chaplain for 34 years, Powell gives presentations about the history of chaplains in the military from the Civil War through the present.

Saturday will also feature a panel discussion led by Stefan Maupin and special guest Cindy Kent, author of “Better Men: Alpha Upsilon in Vietnam.” The panel will include some of the men who are highlighted in Kent’s compilation of stories from 14 Vietnam veterans. Before they became brothers of war, they were brothers at the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Alpha Upsilon chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, the national agriculture fraternity.

“Our education team has put together two days of insightful and experiential activities that highlight the past, present and future of our nation’s armed forces,” said Emalee Buttrey, Ph.D., director of education, programming and museum experience at the museum. “For guests passionate about history and the military, this event is going to provide a lot to discover.”

Both days of the 2023 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium will also feature reenactment groups, including the 1st Infantry Division WWII Reenactors, the 52nd Regimental String Band and The Living Historians. Military equipment is on display on the grounds throughout the weekend.

A variety of military-related vendors will exhibit in Dino Hall, including the Veteran’s Museum of Halls, Tennessee, Irreverent Warriors, Special Ops Xcursions, Tennessee State Guard, Tennessee Army National Guard, UTM ROTC, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services and Wreaths Across America.

Attendees also can explore Discovery Park’s Military Gallery, which can be found on two levels of the museum. The lower level contains a collection of military vehicles and weapons, as well as displays about the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and our current military conflicts. Displays about the Civil War, World War I and World War II can be found on the entry-level along with an oral history theater that showcases stories shared by veterans.

All the programs, panel discussions and other events during the symposium are included with park admission or membership.

All active military service members, veterans and their guests receive free admission on both days of the event.

School group leaders wanting to request scholarships for student groups should email education@discoveryparkofamerica.com or call 731-885-5455.

For a full list of events and biographies on special guests, visit discoveryparkofamerica.com/military2023.

Visitors gather around living historians at the 2022 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium.

March 6, 2023

Union City, Tenn. — On Saturday evening, March 4,  Discovery Park of America kicked off its 10th birthday year celebration by honoring four individuals who, like the museum and heritage park, inspire those whose lives they’ve touched.

The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards were attended by a sold-out crowd from around the region who joined Discovery Park in celebrating the honorees, all of whom have deep roots in the region. The 2023 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award honorees are:

• Amy L. Bondurant, former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
• Keith Carver, Ph.D., senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
• James Ross, president & CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare
• The Honorable John S. Tanner, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives

The honorees’ names, photos and bios have been added to a kiosk alongside those of the 10 previous honorees.

Keli McAlister was event host and master of ceremonies. Now the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s public information officer, she previously spent two decades as a television news journalist working in Jackson, Tennessee; Oklahoma City; and Seattle.

Musicians from the “Symphony on the Move” program of the Jackson Symphony performed individually throughout the entry level of the museum during the cocktail hour and then provided dinner entertainment as a group. A served dinner, prepared by award-winning chefs David Jones and Karla Lawrence of Artisan Kitchen of Paducah, included a 10th birthday gourmet cupcake.

Discovery Park CEO Scott Williams welcomed the audience and noted the spirit of volunteerism that defined the museum since the beginning. Williams read a statement from Discovery Park founder Robert Kirkland that the philanthropist made on opening day, Nov. 1, 2013. Kirkland said: “We are so pleased with what the committees did through the years. We can’t thank the people here enough who have helped us out. What you see here would be millions of dollars’ worth of creative time that was provided free by local citizens.” Williams pointed out that Robert Kirkland was always proud of the contributions from his friends and neighbors.

Later in the evening, Lionel Crews, Ph.D., associate professor with the department of chemistry and physics at UTM shared his thoughts about the impact of Discovery Park on the region and introduced a video featuring some of the museum’s earliest volunteers. The video can be viewed online at DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/2023.

In his acceptance speech, honoree Keith Carver noted the celebration of Discovery Park’s 10^th birthday coincides with growth throughout the region. He said, “As I think about Discovery Park bringing so many people to the region, it reminds me of everything happening here right now. From Blue Oval City and the expansion of I-69 to the growth of the manufacturing and automotive industries here, it’s safe to say there are some great days ahead for West Tennessee.”

Photos from the evening are on Discovery Park’s Flickr page.

Feb. 24, 2023

Union City, Tenn.— Discovery Park of America has announced a new partnership with Total Tech Solutions that includes naming rights of the museum and heritage park’s new performance venue. The Total Tech Solutions Stage will be located on the south side of the park near the Train Depot.

Total Tech Solutions is a provider of burglary and fire alarms, surveillance cameras, access control and data and managed information technology. They serve commercial, educational, industrial and residential customers throughout Tennessee and Kentucky.

The announcement was made at Discovery Park on Thursday at the official kick-off of the celebration of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce’s 100th birthday. That event, also sponsored by Total Tech Solutions, included a free concert by Randall French, John McDaniel and Darryl Worley.

“As our business continues to grow and expand, we’ve been looking for ways we can support the communities we serve,” said Total Tech Solutions’s founder and chief executive officer Chaz Robinson. “I believe providing a way to encourage more live music in the region is a great way to do that.”

“Discovery Park has been the host of many live performances since first opening to the public ten years ago, but these are always on temporary stages we put up and take down,” said Discovery Park’s president and CEO Scott Williams. “All of us here are grateful to Total Tech Solutions for providing a permanent stage in West Tennessee for entertainment of all kinds.”

The Total Tech Solutions Stage will first open to the public on Friday, May 5, 2023 for the opening night of Discovery Park’s free, annual summer music festival, Rhythm on the Rails.

Although the full festival lineup has not yet been announced, entertainment for the festival will include Texas Hill with Adam Wakefield, Ghost Town Blues Band and B.B. King’s Blues Club All-Star Band.

Photo Caption: Artist’s rendering of The Total Tech Solutions Stage that will be located on the south side of Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tenn.

Feb. 20, 2023

Union City, Tenn. – Discovery Park of America announced Linda Lu Stone Harding has been selected as the 2023 Volunteer of the Year during a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Blake’s Southern Milling in Martin. Harding, who was born in and has lived in Union City all her life, has been volunteering for more than five years at the museum and heritage park.

When working at Discovery Park, Harding can frequently be found at the information table helping guests plan their day or making recommendations about other attractions, hotels or restaurants that are in the area.

“Volunteering at Discovery Park is such a wonderful and rewarding experience,” Harding said. “I meet people from all over the world, and hopefully make their experience in our region even better. It’s also always fun to run across people when I travel who mention Discovery Park. I’m always proud to say, ‘I work there.’”

On an average year, Discovery Park has around 30 active volunteers who perform duties in the museum, on the grounds, as craftspeople and in advisory roles.

“A robust volunteer program is one of the best indicators of a healthy non-profit museum,” said Scott Williams, Discovery Park’s president and CEO. “All of us at Discovery Park are so grateful to our volunteers like Linda who enhance our visitors’ experiences in so many ways.”

Discovery Park will host two information sessions on the volunteer program on Monday, March 6 at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Tennessee Room. Many different volunteer opportunities exist currently, and duties can be tailored to meet individuals’ passions and interests. To sign up for the session or for more information, please email Samantha Simbeck at ssimbeck@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

Photo Caption: Discovery Park’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year, Linda Lu Harding

Photo caption: Discovery Park’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year, Linda Lu Harding, along with fellow volunteers and Discovery Park staff. (seated, l to r) Linda Lu Harding, Cherry Pyron and Kathy Davis (standing, l to r) David Hill, Russell Orr, Samantha Simbeck, Alice Fennel, Emalee Buttrey, Sue Ellen Morris and Scott Williams.

Feb. 7, 2023

Discovery Park of America Hosting Informational Session about Civil War Trails to Increase Tourism in Northwest Tennessee 

Union City, Tenn.—Discovery Park of America will be the venue for an information session for those in Northwest Tennessee interested in The Civil War Trails on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, 4 – 5 p.m. CT. Presenting at the session via Zoom will be Drew Gruber, executive director of the program.

Civil War Trails has been working with communities since 1994 to share their stories and connect visitors across a network that now spans six states. Travelers look to Civil War Trails to put them in the footsteps of the generals, soldiers, citizens and the enslaved who found themselves in the midst of the Civil War.

Civil War sites are known to be a major generator of tourism dollars. In the National Park Service’s 2019 Visitor Spending Effects Report, the data showed 18.8 million recreational visits to battlefields managed by the National Park Service. These visits supported an average of 464 jobs within each surrounding community, producing an average of $14.5 million in labor income.

“While there are many points of interest relating to the Civil War in Northwest, Tennessee, there are only a small number of sites included on the trail compared to the rest of the state,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park. “We hope by hosting this session, we can see Northwest Tennessee better represented. That will lead to an increase in visitors to this area to experience everything we have to offer in this region.”

During the session, Gruber will review procedures on adding a site to the Civil War Trails program, the types of sites that are approved for inclusion, the tourism-related benefits communities may anticipate, costs, case studies and more.

The Civil War Trails program boasts over 1,550 interpretive signs across five states. Every Civil War Trails interpretive sign is supported by placement in a signature map-guides and other print and digital media.

“Civil War Trails not only distributes several thousand maps monthly, but our partners continually promote our sites through the cooperative nature of the program, said Drew Gruber, executive director of the program. “Additionally, we ensure that visitors, whether by chance or design, find an attractive and well-maintained sign at each site.”

To reserve a spot at the info session in person or on Zoom, contact Alexis Millsaps at 731-885-5455 or amillsaps@discoveryparkofamerica.com

Photo Caption: A new Civil War Trails directional sign was installed at Fort Hill in Waverly, TN late last year. Courtesy, Civil War Trails, Inc.

Photo Caption: Each Civil War Trails site around the nation has a dual-leg interpretive sign like this one which was installed in Goldsboro, NC earlier this year. Courtesy, Civil War Trails, Inc.

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About Discovery Park of America

The mission of Discovery Park of America, a premier world-class museum and heritage park located in Union City, Tennessee, is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Included is a 100,000-square-foot museum featuring 9 interactive exhibit galleries with additional space for temporary exhibits from around the world and a 50-acre heritage park. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations including its principal funder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. For more information, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Union City, Tenn. —Discovery Park of America will exhibit all 24 artifacts found inside a cornerstone box from the historic Dresden First United Methodist Church. The exhibit, “Inside the Cornerstone Box,” will feature the items that were found on Feb. 2, 2022, when Discovery Park artifact experts opened the box as many church members watched.

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, the Discovery Park 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.

To plan a trip to Discovery Park, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com.

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

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

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.