(Union City, Tennessee, Nov. 10, 2023) — Discovery Park of America’s new permanent exhibit, “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway,” is now open.

Significant gifts for the $1.1 million exhibit were made in memory of William A. (Bill) Homra and his son, Allen Homra, both businessmen who had a passion for the sport of duck hunting. Ducks Unlimited, the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation is a premier sponsor of the exhibit, which was designed and built by the Louisville, Kentucky firm Solid Light. Ducks Unlimited was instrumental in providing direction and content for the entire exhibit.

Other contributions were made by the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation, Joan Homra, the George H. Dunklin, Jr. Family Foundation, the Estate of Linda Anne White, the Deupree Family Foundation, Commercial Bank and Trust Company, Tennessee Valley Electric Authority and the Union City Electric Authority.  For a complete list of all donors, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/duck.

“Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway” uses hands-on experiences, state-of-the-art technology and beautiful wildlife photography to explore the biology, identification and habitats of ducks, geese and other waterfowl. Visitors will discover how a combination of federal land protections and private land conservation has united the government, landowners, hunters, scientists, conservationists and other nature lovers in protecting and restoring waterfowl populations and the land needed for them to thrive.

Inside Discovery Center, the exhibit includes sections on waterfowl biology, the conservation efforts of the Cohen Wildlife Lab and the Ducks Unlimited Conservation Experience. Outside, guests will find an exploration of what ignited Theodore Roosevelt’s lifelong passion for preserving America’s natural heritage; the past, present and future of decoys presented by Higdon Outdoors; the story of Akers v. Resor from The Tennessee Wildlife Federation—now considered one of the greatest victories in the history of the American grassroots conservation movement; a look at modern-day waterfowl hunting gear from Final Flight Outfitters; a display of rare waterfowl hunting artifacts and calls from nationally recognized collector Ryan Graves and more. Guests will also note an addition on the park’s North Lake. A Reelfoot Lake-style duck blind and decoys have been added to provide an interactive element to the exhibit.

Also now open is “Capturing Waterfowl: A Seth Dortch Photography Exhibit.” The photography showcased in this temporary exhibit will provide snapshots into the world of waterfowl hunting and provide a visual journey through the eyes and lens of Dortch. “The power of photography for me is that it provides a tool for storytelling,” says Dortch. “It allows me to communicate an experience like waterfowl hunting with creativity, perspective and my personal point of view.” The temporary photography exhibit will be open until Jan. 21, 2024.

Find photos from the opening of the exhibit on Discovery Park’s Flickr page.

Visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/duck to learn more about the exhibit.

Scott Williams (right), Discovery Park’s president and CEO, shares a portion of the Ducks Unlimited Conservation Experience with George Dunklin (left), a former DU president, and Chuck Smith, DU’s current president. The new, permanent exhibit on waterfowl hunting and conservation is now open and is included with admission.

(Click here for a high-resolution image.)