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.flywheelstaging.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.

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.flywheelstaging.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.

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.flywheelstaging.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.

###

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.

The 2023 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, philanthropists and others to celebrate the winners, all of whom have deep roots in West Tennessee. Our 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.

Q: What would you say is your most popular menu item?

Our most popular Sandwich is, by far, the Three Little Pigs.  It consists of roasted pork loin, ham, spiced bacon and apple-apricot chutney.  It’s served on our homemade hoagie.  It’s hard to say what our most popular dessert is.  Our French Vanilla Butternut cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is very popular, along with our Black Velvet cake that is made with extra dark cocoa, and has a dark chocolate buttercream frosting.

Q: Artisan Kitchen has four major aspects to its business. Tell us a little about them.

Artisan Kitchen has four major aspects to its business.

First is the café which offers a creative assortment of sandwiches, salads and creative specials.

Second is the corporate and private catering ranging from the simple and casual to the most formal of events and weddings.

Third is desserts, wedding cakes, and specialty designer cakes.

And fourth is the made from scratch, home meal replacement offerings.

Q: Some of your Google Reviews compare you and Karla’s patience and general know-how of techniques and equipment to that of the well-known show “Chopped.” What do you think about this comparison?

Karla and I definitely work very well together.  She is by far the more knowledgeable in regards to the technical aspects of cooking and baking.  She has an incredible sense of taste, and can really build a flavor profile of a dish from the ground up.

While I love to cook, and have garnered a great deal of knowledge over my career, I am more logistically and customer service oriented.  Together we make a great team.  As for the comparison to the chefs of “Chopped”, we definitely have the competitive spirit and energy.

Q: It seems like your business is quite relationally run– meaning you build relationships with your staff as well as the guests that come and go. How did this practice begin for you, as a business owner?

Part of it came from watching my Father interact with customers at his orchard.  He took great pride in his work, and loved to share and get to know the people who came to the orchard. It was very much a social experience.

Additionally, my first job in food service was at a bed and breakfast and restaurant. I learned a lot about not just serving, but also getting to know our customers like guests and old friends.

From a staff perspective, each of us have very specific responsibilities for certain areas of production, and this leads to everyone taking a real sense of pride in their work, and, as well, builds a very strong interdependence among us.

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.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge in hosting the 2023 Tennessee Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 5 p.m. This dinner will be sponsored in part by Obion County Tourism, Ducks Unlimited and the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge. We are delighted to offer the winners two free tickets to our museum and heritage park so they can spend the day exploring in advance of the ceremony. Additional tickets can be purchased at the museum’s group rate at the ticket counter.

Numerous free activities will take place on Sunday, April 16, 2023 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 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: (Left to right) Joan Howe, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency refuge ranger and Tennessee state coordinator for the Junior Duck Stamp Program; Glenn Schreiber; Isaac Schrieber, Best of Show winner in the 2022 Junior Duck Stamp Competition; Ruth Schreiber; and Don King, chief multimedia development for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Ritter Communications, the largest privately held telecommunications service provider serving exclusively the Mid-South, celebrates the company’s recently announced $1.5 million expansion project that includes the NW Tennessee region with a donation of $2,500 to Discovery Park of America.

“Ritter Communications remains committed to supporting the communities in which we provide our services, and donations like this are one of the ways in which we express that support,” said Ritter Communications CEO Alan Morse. “Discovery Park of America encourages families and individuals in and around the region to stay connected with and explore the world around them. In many ways, the connectivity we provide through our telecom services empowers people to do exactly that, and we’re proud to contribute to and enhance the park’s inspiring work.”

Ritter Communications is a regional telecommunications provider, headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas serving more than 115 communities in the region across four states with a full suite of innovative communications services. Learn more at RitterBusiness.com.

Pictured (left to right): Trevor Jines, Ritter Communications; Brooke DeClue, Ritter Communications; Mary Nita Bondurant, Discovery Park of America; Scott Williams, Discovery Park of America

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 announcing today that a 700-square-foot outdoor entertainment stage is under construction as an addition to our Rotary Pavilion. This stage will be used for concerts, theatrical productions, weddings and other special events. We’re also seeking a naming sponsor for the stage, which will be the only one of its kind in the region.

A grand opening concert to unveil our stage is scheduled for the first evening of our summer concert series, Rhythm on the Rails, on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.

It is located next to the Train Depot, beside the lake on the south side of the park, and was designed after using temporary stages for several years in various locations, which has helped us determine the best spot for entertainers and audiences.

“Part of the mission of Discovery Park is to champion the arts and bring all types of musical entertainment to Northwest Tennessee,” said Karl Johnson, the museum’s director who is responsible for booking much of the talent that performs at Discovery Park. “This beautiful new stage will allow us to provide a quality venue for entertainers from around the country.”

In addition to ongoing exposure from signage on the stage, the naming sponsor will receive numerous annual benefits. Those interested in more information about sponsoring the stage should email Mary Nita Bondurant at mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com.