Mary Nita Bondurant has been a pillar of Discovery Park of America since its earliest days, even before the park officially opened. As the current director of development, and having previously served as the director of marketing, she has devoted countless hours to helping shape the park into what it is today, ensuring it fulfills its mission of inspiring both children and adults to see beyond.

Her journey at 830 Everett Blvd. began in a trailer behind Discovery Park as she watched the construction of the museum from her window. Most recently, she embraced the challenge of starting the development department and learning to write grants.

You can hear Mary Nita get emotional when talking about retirement on one of the early episodes of Discovery Park’s Reelfoot Forward podcast in 2019. It is with great sadness that we now face the moment when she steps into this next chapter of her life.

Her leadership and vision were instrumental in raising money for programs like the Kirkland Scholarship Fund and other ways to give to Discovery Park of America. As she steps into retirement, her absence between these walls will undoubtedly be felt. Her legacy, however, will continue to thrive in the programs she helped build and in the countless lives she touched.

We wish her the best in her next adventure and express our deepest gratitude for her years of dedicated service to Discovery Park. Her passion and dedication have been truly inspiring.

Homeschooling provides families with the unique opportunity to tailor their educational experiences, and there’s no better place to enhance this journey than at Discovery Park’s Homeschool Days. This year’s program is designed to inspire, educate and entertain homeschool students of all ages with a diverse array of hands-on activities, engaging exhibits and immersive experiences.

Homeschool Days at Discovery Park are carefully crafted to cater to various age groups, ensuring that every student finds something exciting and educational. The activities are designed to complement homeschool curricula, offering practical applications of scientific principles, historical events and artistic creativity. Whether your child is a budding scientist, a young historian or an aspiring artist, there’s something for everyone.

Register your student for one of the following groups: Grades 1-4 (Elementary), Grades 5-8 (Middle School), or Grades 9-12 (High School). Members enjoy discounted rates, with an early bird fee of $5 per student and a regular fee of $15. Non-members pay $15 for the early bird fee and $25 for the regular fee. The early bird fee ends at noon on the day of Homeschool Day. Parent/Guardian admission is $12. Not a member? Become one today to receive these discounts and more.

Fall Semester Homeschool Days 2024

Homestead Day

Tuesday, August 13

1-4 p.m.

Environmental Day

Tuesday, September 10

1-4 p.m.

International Culture Day 

Tuesday, October 8

1-4 p.m.

American History Day 

Tuesday, November 12

1-4 p.m.

Engineering Day 

Tuesday, December 10

1-4 p.m.

For questions, email education@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

As the nation approaches the 250^th anniversary of the birth of America, the Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution are encouraging celebrations in towns, cities and counties throughout the state. A notable effort undertaken by the ninety-four Tennessee DAR chapters is their recently published book, “Patriots to Pioneers, the First Tennessee Volunteers.” This is a collection of stories of Patriots who served in the Revolutionary War to gain American Independence and then became the founders and settlers of Tennessee.

Tracey Batey of the Reelfoot Chapter, NSDAR, of Union City presented a copy of this book to Discovery Park of America on Monday, July 15, 2024. The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution helped to fund this gift through America 250! Celebration Grants. The 600-page volume features 372 documented and sourced Tennessee Patriot stories, 300 additional proven Tennessee Patriot names, beautiful full-color illustrations by renowned historical artist, David Wright and others, as well as an introduction and overview of the history of Tennessee’s role in the American Revolution and its founding. The Tennessee Society is excited to make these stories of the Patriots and Pioneers of Tennessee available to teachers, librarians, and American history students in locations throughout Tennessee.

One of the world’s largest patriotic women’s organizations, DAR has 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters across the country and several foreign countries. DAR members promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. For additional information about DAR and its relevant mission, visit www.dar.org.

Download High-Resolution Photo

Pictured left to right: Zach Rea, Scott Williams, Tracey Batey, Jennifer Wildes and Clare Saum.

Download High-Resolution Photo

Jean Jones of Bernice, Louisiana, has donated five books written by West Tennessee author Richard Halliburton for the bookshelf that leads into Discovery Park’s Enlightenment Gallery. Fittingly, above the shelf can be found the quote “Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit” by Jawaharlal Nehru.

“As a youngster, my mother, Jerry Jo Johnson, was enchanted with Richard Halliburton and envied his world travels and adventures,” said Jones. “She grew up in the small town of Hubbard, Texas, and loved reading about Richard Halliburton and his exotic adventures, imagining herself in his shoes.”

Halliburton was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, and grew up in Memphis. He lived his life following a philosophy he expressed in his first book, “The Royal Road to Romance,” published in 1925. “Let those who wish have their respectability,” he wrote. “I wanted freedom, freedom to indulge in whatever caprice struck my fancy, freedom to search in the farthest corners of the earth for the beautiful, the joyous, and the romantic.”

Against the backdrop of the Golden Age, the Roaring Twenties, and the Great Depression, Halliburton’s exploits around the globe made him an internationally known celebrity and the most famous travel writer of his time. From climbing Mount Olympus in Greece to swimming the Panama Canal and literally flying all the way to Timbuktu, Halliburton experienced and wrote about adventures that others never even believed possible. His youthful spirit and bohemian lifestyle won the hearts of millions.

Inspired by Halliburton, Johnson toured Europe with her aunt as a young woman, then settled into a lifetime career of teaching and raising a family. Upon her retirement, she took off on several adventures—two lengthy trips to the Soviet Union, several trips to European countries and a cruise through the Panama Canal.

“Richard would have approved!” noted her daughter, Jean.

Jerry Jo Johnson died in August, 2005 in a hospital in New Orleans, as Hurricane Katrina howled outside.

The Halliburton books that inspired Johnson that you can now find on the bookshelf are:

• New Worlds to Conquer, 1929, Garden City Pub.
• The Royal Road to Romance, 1925, Garden City Pub.
• Flying Carpet, 1932, Garden City
• Richard Halliburton’s Book of Marvels—The Occident (school edition), 1937, Bobbs Merrill
• Richard Halliburton, His Story of His Life’s Adventures, 1940, Bobbs Merrill

Join us for a special showcase of world music on April 19th, 2024 as Discovery Park of America hosts Roots of Rhythm. This show is an exciting blend of musical performances and educational lessons on music from the African diaspora.

“Roots of Rhythm” is a one-of-a-kind experience that elevates cultural awareness about music from around the globe through energetic performances and engaging audience participation activities. It is an interdisciplinary voyage that encompasses world history and geography through the lens of music, coinciding with the National Standards for Arts Education.

You can learn more about “Roots of Rhythm” on the UT-Martin Percussion website.

Presentations are free with your membership or park admission. Not a member? Join today.

During the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, the “path of totality” will span across North America. It will begin in Mexico and then pass through several states in the United States before crossing into eastern Canada. The 2024 Eclipse, while not a total eclipse at Discovery Park in Union City, Tennessee, promises an intriguing glimpse into a rare celestial occurrence.

What to Expect at 99.2% Coverage: Guests will experience games on the front lawn, activities like the Epic Eclipse Race, a hands-on STEAM challenge, and members of the education team sharing fun and fascinating facts about the sky above us. And when the time comes, children and adults attending will have the opportunity to witness approximately 99.2% coverage of the sun. While this partial eclipse won’t result in complete darkness or the dramatic appearance of the sun’s corona like it will in areas in the path of totality, it will offer a noteworthy sight. You can anticipate a subtle darkening of the sky, akin to a very cloudy day or late winter afternoon, as the moon partially obscures the sun. Shadows may appear slightly sharper, and there might be a slight drop in temperature, creating a unique atmosphere for observation.

Understanding Eclipses: Eclipses have long intrigued humanity, blending science with myth and folklore. These events occur when the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth results in a shadow being cast on one celestial body by another. During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, partially blocking our view of the sun—a phenomenon that continues to captivate and inspire curiosity.

Fascinating Facts:

• Total solar eclipses, where the sun is completely obscured, are infrequent occurrences, happening somewhere on Earth approximately every 18 months.
• The 2024 eclipse is part of the Saros cycle, a pattern of eclipses that repeats roughly every 18 years and 11 days.
• While the path of totality for this eclipse won’t cross directly over Discovery Park, it will offer a significant partial eclipse experience.
• During the partial eclipse, observers may notice a subtle dimming of sunlight, changes in temperature, and unique crescent-shaped shadows cast by objects on the ground.
• The only safe way to look directly at the sun during an eclipse is through special-purpose solar filters, like eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers. Discovery Park will have a limited number of glasses for sale in the gift shop, and you can preorder in advance here.

Also at Discovery Park:

Science and Space Gallery: Guests who visit the space and science-related gallery weave their way through the universe, starting on planet Earth and then venturing through the solar system, the galaxy, and then beyond. Data and imagery presented in these exhibits are taken almost exclusively from NASA sources. While an asteroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere is often called a “shooting star,” it’s actually a meteor. The pieces that do not burn up but hit the ground intact are called meteorites. The iron-nickel meteorite on display at Discovery Park fell to Earth in Nantan County, Guangxi, China in 1516 and weighs 661 lbs. This specimen was discovered along with others in 1958 when a field strewn with “iron rocks” was discovered by farmers looking for iron ore to make steel. When these heavy, iron-rich rocks wouldn’t melt, further investigation showed them to be iron meteorites.

STEM Landing: STEM Landing features a showcase of great STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) achievements. This area encourages guests of all ages to explore the different ways that STEM principles help shape our world. You will find a collection of NASA mission patches inside the geodesic dome, as well as an orbiter and other space-related artifacts. Then, you can walk outside and see an F-84 Jet and a Blue Angels plane on display, as well as a 110-foot Titan I missile donated by NASA.

As we prepare to observe the 2024 eclipse, let us embrace the wonder of the natural world and the mysteries of our solar system. Discovery Park invites you to join us on April 8 for this celestial event. While it may not bring total darkness or the breathtaking views of a total eclipse, the partial eclipse promises a fascinating and memorable experience with convenient parking along with easy access to food and beverage and restroom facilities.

Find out more at discoveryparkofamerica.com/solar.