Discovery Park was honored to be selected for inclusion as an Interpretive Center on the Great River Road National Scenic Byway last week at the 2023 Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) annual meeting in Alton, Illinois.

Celebrating 85 years in 2023, the Great River Road was established in 1938 when governors of the 10 river states opted to use existing roads and highways rather than building a new continuous road, as a means of conserving land, time and money.

Stretching for 3,000 miles through and beside 10 states—including Tennessee—the Great River Road has a separate commission in each state. These commissions coordinate through the MRPC, founded to preserve and improve the natural resources, cultural heritage, economic viability, scenic quality, recreational amenities and other features significant to economic development in the Mississippi River Valley.

Interpretive Centers must first apply to be included and then go through an evaluation process after which they are voted on by the Culture and Heritage Committee of the MRPC.

Edmond McDavis III, director of the TN Delta Alliance, which is funded through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, is the point person for interpretive centers in Tennessee.

As one of more than 100 Interpretive Centers, Discovery Park will now be included in the free 10-state Great River Road map that shows the Great River Road’s route through all 10 states and highlights the Interpretive Centers along the way. Travelers can plot their route and find scenic overlooks, agritourism attractions, museums and more. Maps are distributed to tourists at various locations and can also be ordered on the Great River Road website. Discovery Park will also be included on future signage that indicates the locations of Interpretive Centers along the Great River Road.

For more information, visit www.discoveryparkofamerica.com/greatriverroad

Photo Caption: Tennesseans at the 2023 Mississippi River Parkway Commission annual meeting in Alton, Illinois included (l to r): Mike McClanahan; transportation manager, Tennessee Department of Transportation Highway Beautification Office; Christian L. Treglia, director of brand promise fulfillment, Tennessee State Parks; Scott Williams, president and CEO, Discovery Park of America; Dale Dozier, building official, Dyer County, Tenn.; and Edmond McDavis III, director of TN Delta Alliance.

Beginning with the summer 2024 trips to Europe and Washington, D.C., the Union City Rotary Club’s Student Travel Program will be open for application to Obion County juniors who are homeschooled in addition to those at Obion County Central High School, Union City High School and South Fulton High School. The Union City Rotary Club also announced they will begin working with Global Citizen Adventure Corps, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designed to cultivate global citizen leaders through education, travel, and service opportunities. The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation fund the trip to Europe, and an anonymous donor funds the trip to Washington, D.C.

Selections of students for the trips are made after an application and interview process that begins with the student and at least one parent or guardian attending one of two information sessions that will take place at Discovery Park of America on Sun., Oct. 22, 2023 at 2 p.m. or Mon., Oct. 23, 2023 at 6 p.m.

The partnership with Global Citizens Adventure Corps will also allow participating students the opportunity to earn three hours of transferable college credit via Bethel University.

“The Union City Rotary Club’s student travel program has sent more than 200 students to Washington, D.C. and countries throughout Europe for a life-changing experience,” said Donny Bearden, the 2023 president of the Union City Rotary Club. “Having heard from many of these young people after their trip, I know it enriches their lives as they are exposed to people, places and things they’ve never even imagined.”

After an application is submitted, students will participate in an interview with members of the Union City Rotary Club’s student travel program selection committee on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The 12 students selected for the Europe trip and 10 students selected for the Washington, D.C. trip will be notified that evening. The trips to Europe and Washington, D.C. are scheduled for late June or early July 2024.

Who: High School and Home School Juniors and at least one parent

What: Rotary Club’s Student Travel Program Information Session

When: Sun., Oct. 22, 2023 at 2 p.m. or Mon., Oct. 23, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Where: Discovery Park of America, 830 Everett Blvd., Union City, TN 38261

Union City, Tenn. (August 3, 2023) Discovery Park of America is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to the board of directors: Dr. Keith Carver, Steve Carr, Jerry Ward and Bettie Graham.

• Dr. Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
• Mayor Steve Carr, Mayor, Obion County, Tennessee
• Jerry Ward, owner, Jerry Ward Autoplex
• Bettie Graham, owner, Union City Coca Cola

The primary mission of Discovery Park of America is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. With this in mind, the addition of these accomplished professionals to the board signifies the organization’s commitment to fostering community growth and providing enriching experiences to its visitors.

Scott Williams, the president and CEO of Discovery Park, expressed his enthusiasm for the newest additions to the board, stating, “We are thrilled to have Keith, Mayor Carr, Jerry, and Betty join our board. Each of them is passionate about the mission of our organization, and we’re grateful they will be serving the community alongside our other board members and staff.”

In addition to the four new board members, Discovery Park’s board of directors is comprised of a group of individuals committed to the park’s continued success: Al Creswell (board chair), Johnny Bacon, Emily Billingsley, Bob Cartwright, Ron Cooper, Mike Cox, Alice Fennel, Lindsay Frilling, Grace Gary, Terry Hailey, Ann Joiner, Bennie McGuire, Tim Shanks, Sam Sinclair, Betty Ann Tanner, Will Wade and Scott Williams.

As new board members are added, their cartoon-style portrait is hung on the wall in Art Hall alongside other board members. The paintings, an idea championed by Discovery Park founder Robert Kirkland, have been done by Pat Wade and Dr. Paul J. Marsidi.

Q: What is a community jam session?

Community jam sessions are a way for musicians of all levels to come together, connect and create music in a casual and supportive environment. Jam sessions bring musicians from all walks of life together. This session is open for anyone who wants to participate, whether they are a seasoned musician or a beginner. It’s an opportunity for people to share their passion for music and engage in a collective musical experience. Unlike more formal performances or rehearsals, community jam sessions have a laid-back atmosphere.

Mulberry Jam, an acoustic old-time string band based in the Memphis area, will lead the community jam session.  Mulberry Jam will perform in The Settlement Pavilion prior to the jam session at 12:15 p.m. Find the full schedule of events for the David Crockett Birthday Celebration here.

Q: How do I know if I am ready for a community jam session?

If you have a basic understanding of your instrument and a desire to collaborate and learn from others, you’re ready.

Q: Are there any specific rules or etiquette I should follow during the jam session?

 Discovery Park’s community jam session will be informal and laid-back, but it is still essential to be respectful and considerate while others are playing. Listen attentively to other musicians and be responsive to their cues and give space for everyone to take turns and share the spotlight.

 Q: What is the purpose of a community jam session?

A jam session provides a collaborative environment for musicians to improvise and play music together.

Q: How do beginners prepare for their first jam session?

Beginners can prepare for their first jam session by choosing a few songs to play and having a good understanding of the songs they will perform.

Q: How do I register to participate in Discovery Park’s community jam session on Saturday, August 12?

 Those participating in Discovery Park’s jam session can register by arriving at Discovery Park by 1:00 p.m. with an acoustic instrument. All participants must enter through the main entrance of the Discovery Center. Each participant with a string instrument receives free admission. The jam session will take place in the Settlement Pavilion on the north side of Heritage park.

This presentation is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Obion County, Tennessee has been selected to host the 2024 Alabama-Mississippi-Tennessee Rural Tourism Conference to be held October 21-23, 2024. Discovery Park of America will serve as the venue for the conference’s presentations, educational sessions and banquet.

This is the first time the county has been selected to host this annual event and the third time for the conference to be held in Tennessee. The Northwest Tennessee county was selected after a review process that included presentations in Cookeville, Tennessee by several other rural counties with a strong presence of tourism-related businesses and organizations.

In addition to Discovery Park, the Obion County proposal, created and presented by the Obion County Tourism committee, includes opportunities for attendees to experience Reelfoot Lake, White Squirrel Winery, Union City’s downtown, The Pavilion at Houser Creek Crossing and more.

The Alabama-Mississippi-Tennessee Rural Tourism Conference takes place in a different rural community in Alabama, Mississippi or Tennessee each year. Attending will be around 250 individuals who work in tourism or economic development, members of city councils, elected officials or those who want to network with professionals in the tourism industry. Attendees experience educational sessions that allow them to learn ways to grow tourism in rural communities.

“I join our entire tourism community here in Obion County with excitement as we prepare to host this conference and roll out the red carpet,” said Steve Carr, Obion County, Tennessee Mayor. “From eagles to white squirrels and sunken cypress trees to dinosaurs, we have a lot to share, and I know those attending this conference are going to be impressed with their experience here in Obion County.”

Discovery Park of America’s 2023 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium Was Unforgettable This Year

May 3, 2023

This past weekend, thousands gathered at Discovery Park of America for the 2023 Military History and Armed Forces Symposium. The annual event featured a variety of programs and interactive activities that explore the American military’s past, present and future.  

On Friday, students from all over the region had the opportunity to participate in various educational activities and hear a keynote by Cpl. John Henley. 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. Henley shared his story and how his time in the Marine Corps affected the rest of his career.  

A VIP reception was also held to honor veterans, active military and reservists who have sacrificed on behalf of all U.S. citizens to fight for and protect our freedom. 

Guests had the opportunity to hear from Lt. Col. Bernard House on Saturday. House is a professor of military science at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He is also the overall leader of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps battalion at both Murray State University and the University of Tennessee at Martin.  

Another guest favorite on Saturday was a panel discussion led by Stefan Maupin and special guest Cindy Kent, author of “Better Men: Alpha Upsilon in Vietnam.” The panel included 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. 

Other highlights from the weekend included performances from Operation Song, an organization of songwriters who work with veterans and active-duty military to tell their stories through song. 

A variety of military-related vendors were set up in Dinosaur Hall such as Veteran’s Museum of Halls, Tennessee, Irreverent Warriors, Special Ops Xcursions, TN State Guard, TN Army National Guard, UTM ROTC, TN Department of Veterans Services, Wreaths Across America, United States Space Force, Operation Song, Civil Air Patrol, Airforce Special Warfare, Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, United States Marine Corps, Overmountain Victory Trail Association, Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Agricenter International, The Veteran’s Museum, Northwest Tennessee SHIP and more. 

This event was sponsored by Union City Coca-Cola and Dixie Gun Works. 

Photos from the weekend can be found on our Flickr Page.  

We kicked off our 10th birthday celebration by honoring four individuals who, like us, inspire children and adults to see beyond.

Our third annual Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards were completely sold out! Guests attended from around the region to joined us in celebrating the honorees, all of whom have deep roots in the region. Speaking of, 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

Their names, photos and bios have been added to a kiosk located in our front lobby, alongside those of the 10 previous honorees.

Keli McAlister was our 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 our audience and noted the spirit of volunteerism that has defined our museum since 2013. 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.

Photo Caption l to r: Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Amy L. Bondurant, former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, John Tanner, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and James Ross, president and CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare.

The 2023 Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser promises to be a fun and exciting celebration of Discovery Park’s 10^th birthday and the contributions of our four honorees.

In addition to a live and silent auction, dinner prepared by award-winning chefs and complimentary champagne, the entertainment for the evening will be provided by musicians from the Jackson Symphony Orchestra.

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 on Saturday, March 4, 2023. 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

Musicians from the “Symphony on the Move” program of the Jackson Symphony will perform individually throughout the venue during the cocktail hour and then provide dinner entertainment as a group.

The Jackson Symphony is the oldest symphony in the state of Tennessee and employs approximately 75 professional musicians to perform in their full concerts. The “Symphony on the Move” program was born out of the Covid-19 Pandemic as a way to take music to neighborhoods and surrounding communities when venues were not allowed to host events. They began with a goal of performing 10 concerts and have now completed approximately 60.

In addition to concerts, The Jackson Symphony is committed to Outreach; their Music and Healing Program sends musicians weekly into the Kirkland Cancer Center, and they frequently play for retirement homes, assisted living facilities, and veteran’s homes. The Jackson Symphony also runs a Children’s and Youth Choir, Youth Orchestra and a Sinfonia and Camerata program.

The musicians playing during the 2023 Discovery Awards include:

• Charles Lewis, flute
• Doug Owens, saxophone
• Benjamin Duffey, piano
• DJ Culp, percussion
• Elise Dougan, violin
• Josh Dougan, base
• Roberto DeSanto, cello

Also joining the symphony during dinner is soprano Alyssa Altobell. A native of Texas, she earned her Master’s Degree in Opera Performance at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, during which time she sang in various operatic roles as well as in the chorus of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Her undergraduate degree is from SUNY Purchase College’s Conservatory of Music. She now lives in Jackson, Tenn., where she is a staffing specialist. Alyssa has taught voice lessons for several years, she sings with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and enjoys being involved in Jackson Theatre Guild’s summer musicals.

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.

We’ve got some cool news for members and guests who love history as much as we do. 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., Drew Gruber, executive director of the program, will be presenting over Zoom.

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 our social media manager Alexis Millsaps at 731-885-5455 or amillsaps@discoveryparkofamerica.com.

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 2. 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.