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.

We have announced that Discovery Park is participating in the Museums for All program beginning in January 2023. This initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Individuals or groups of four participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can present an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at the Discovery Park ticket counter and receive complimentary general admission tickets for that day.

“Providing access to a world-class educational facility was the vision of our founders, the late Robert and Jenny Kirkland, when they decided to build a state-of-the-art museum and heritage park in rural Northwest Tennessee. The Museums for All program aligns nicely with our mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond,” said Dr. Emalee Buttrey, Discovery Park’s director of education, programming and museum experience. “Our goal is for those who visit to leave Discovery Park having experienced something new that ignites a lifelong desire to learn more. The decision to participate in the Museums for All program will allow us to welcome a greater number of guests by eliminating financial barriers and increasing accessibility.”

Union City, Tennessee—Discovery Park of America has announced that the museum and heritage park in Union City, Tennessee, will participate in the Museums for All program beginning in January 2023. This initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM). The program aims to ensure that all children and adults have access to high-quality museum experiences.

Individuals or groups of four participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can present an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at the Discovery Park ticket counter and receive complimentary general admission tickets for that day.

Several research studies from the museum field show that early access to informal educational opportunities, like those offered by museums like Discovery Park, has a positive effect on children’s development and academic performance. As a result, IMLS and ACM partnered to launch the Museums for All initiative in 2014 in service to both organizations’ strategic goal of providing greater access to museums for all children and adults. Thanks to the success of the program, free and reduced admission is available today to eligible members of the public at more than 1,000 museums and other institutions across the country.

“Providing access to a world-class educational facility was the vision of our founders, the late Robert and Jenny Kirkland, when they decided to build a state-of-the-art museum and heritage park in rural Northwest Tennessee. The Museums for All program aligns nicely with our mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond,” said Dr. Emalee Buttrey, Discovery Park’s director of education, programming and museum experience. “Our goal is for those who visit to leave Discovery Park having experienced something new that ignites a lifelong desire to learn more. The decision to participate in the Museums for All program will allow us to welcome a greater number of guests by eliminating financial barriers and increasing accessibility.”

Visitors to Discovery Park experience the visual, literary, music and performing arts; interactive STEM exhibits; opportunities to learn about the cultural heritage of the region and more. This is achieved by convening public programs and interactive learning opportunities and the presentation of exhibits and live performances.

More information about planning a trip to Discovery Park can be found at discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com/visit. A complete list of museums participating in the free admission program can be found at museums4all.org.

Photo Caption: Discovery Park of America has announced that the museum and heritage park in Union City, Tennessee, will participate in the Museums for All program beginning January 2023. This initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM).

The popular “Let It Glow” Drive-Thru and Walk-Thru return Nov. 11 through Dec. 30, 2022 and we are adding ALL NEW lights and displays to this year’s show.

At Mill Ridge, guests can shop for local handmade gifts for sale, hangout with Rudolph in his barn, write a letter to Santa and, new this year, a large display of more than 150 nutcrackers on loan from Edith Adcock of Martin, Tennessee.

Our “Let It Glow” kick-off ceremony at 6 p.m. will feature performances from the Voices of Union City Elementary School, Jackson Symphony Orchestra ensemble and internationally acclaimed singers Merry Ellen Kirk and Marco Alexander.

Singer/songwriter Jolene is a music maker with ancestry from Union City and Troy, TN.  Her voice and songs can be heard on television shows like Love is Blind, First Kill, 90210, Jane by Design, as well as docuseries, trailers, independent films, top podcasts, and advertisements for brands like Coca-Cola, The North Face, The Salvation Army, Kona Bikes, Rode Microphones, and more.

Marco Alexander has been a talented vocalist since a young age. It was not until 2017 that Marco released his debut EP, “Friction.” Since then, he has performed at such venues such as The Orpheum Theatre of Memphis, The Cannon Center, The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Carnegie Hall. He has performed all over the world, including Germany, The Czech Republic, and New Mexico. In January of 2020, Marco traveled to Dakar Senegal, to begin studying for his 18 track album “Kultured Friction.” While there, Marco recorded with over five recording artists from all over Africa, earning him the title of international. Alexander is now preparing for his debut tour.

Union City, Tennessee —A pop-up exhibit on waterfowl of the Mississippi flyway produced by Discovery Park of America will be premiered at the 87th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival that is held Thanksgiving weekend in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

The non-profit museum and heritage park, located in Union City, Tennessee, has created the one-of-a-kind pop-up exhibit to provide festival attendees with a small example of a larger permanent exhibit coming to Discovery Park in 2023, “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway.” The pop-up exhibit will be located in the Commercial Exhibits Tent at the festival.

When opened at Discovery Park, 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 and the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. Additional partners will be announced soon.

Held every Thanksgiving Week, the Wings Over the Prairie Festival is the largest outdoor expo in the Mid-South promoting the sport of duck hunting.

“Because of our relationship with so many waterfowl hunters and conservationists, we were aware of the festival and its importance, and we decided this is the perfect year to attend,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park. “We’ll have a whole team there sharing a sneak peek at the exhibit, looking for content to include and hoping to meet additional partners who would like to help us tell these stories to our visitors from around the world.”

Discovery Park is located in the heart of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, an area that spreads from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the largest and longest of the flyways. Almost half of the waterfowl in North America use this area as a stopover during their annual migration. Also in the same area is historic Reelfoot Lake, a popular destination for hunters, fisherman and birdwatchers for decades. The lake was created after a series of earthquakes in 1811 and 1812 that sent the Mississippi River flowing into a large gash that had been opened by the earthquakes.

Anyone interested in more information about partnerships in this new permanent exhibit should contact Mary Nita Bondurant at mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call 731-885-5455.

We have some exciting news for Discovery Park of America. We’re launching a pop-up exhibit on waterfowl of the Mississippi flyway that will be debuted at the 87th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival that is held in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Our non-profit museum and heritage park has created the one-of-a-kind pop-up exhibit to provide festival attendees with a small example of a larger permanent exhibit coming to Discovery Park in 2023, “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway.” The pop-up exhibit will be located in the Commercial Exhibits Tent at the festival.

When our permanent exhibit opens, it 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 and the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. Additional partners will be announced soon.

Held every Thanksgiving Week, the Wings Over the Prairie Festival is the largest outdoor expo in the Mid-South promoting the sport of duck hunting.

“Because of our relationship with so many waterfowl hunters and conservationists, we were aware of the festival and its importance, and we decided this is the perfect year to attend,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park. “We’ll have a whole team there sharing a sneak peek at the exhibit, looking for content to include and hoping to meet additional partners who would like to help us tell these stories to our visitors from around the world.”

Discovery Park is located in the heart of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, an area that spreads from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the largest and longest of the flyways. Almost half of the waterfowl in North America use this area as a stopover during their annual migration. Also in the same area is historic Reelfoot Lake, a popular destination for hunters, fisherman and birdwatchers for decades. The lake was created after a series of earthquakes in 1811 and 1812 that sent the Mississippi River flowing into a large gash that had been opened by the earthquakes.

Anyone interested in more information about partnerships in this new permanent exhibit should contact Mary Nita Bondurant at mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call 731-885-5455.

Union City, Tennessee —Discovery Park of America  is adding new lights and displays to its popular “Let It Glow” Christmas drive-thru and walk-thru light shows for the 2022 holiday season. “Let It Glow” is an annual fundraiser for the 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Opening night on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, will include a kick-off ceremony at 6 p.m. featuring performances by Merry Ellen Kirk and Marco Alexander, an ensemble from the Jackson Symphony, the Voices of Union City Elementary student choir and a special appearance by Santa Claus.

In addition to his appearance at the kick-off, Santa Claus will be at the “Let It Glow” Walk-thru and available for photos with guests every Friday and Saturday night in the Gristmill.

Returning in 2022 is the drive-thru light show with an all-new route for guests to experience the 50-acre heritage park filled with never-before-seen light displays and new experiences. Unlike previous years, guests will enter through the north gate for the “Let It Glow” Drive-thru. It will feature more than a million lights twinkling along with popular Christmas songs, allowing guests to get a unique look at the Titan Missile, the 199-foot-tall Discovery Center, the settlement of log cabins and more, all decorated for the holidays.

The “Let It Glow” Walk-thru will take place on the north side of the park, which will once again be transformed into the “North Pole.” At the entrance, guests will find food and beverages for sale before they take a stroll through the Japanese Garden, European Garden and Mill Ridge, which will all be transformed into a glowing winter wonderland with plenty of opportunities for taking photographs.

Once guests arrive at Mill Ridge, they will find a shop with local handmade gifts for sale, Rudolph’s Barn, an area in the Smithy for children to write letters to Santa and, new this year, a large display of more than 150 nutcrackers on loan from Edith Adcock of Martin, Tennessee. Adcock received her first nutcracker as a gift for her 16th birthday and has been collecting them for more than 45 years.

Discovery Park has seen an increase in event bookings for the 2022 holiday season over recent years. “Our party planners can create the perfect holiday experience for groups of any size,” said Lauren Jones, director of special events for Discovery Park. “This year, we’ve also made it easy to share the magical experience of “Let It Glow” with your customers, staff, friends or family members with gift vouchers that are available at a discounted rate for 50 or more.” Those interested in “Let It Glow” gift vouchers or a holiday party at Discovery Park should email Jones at ljones@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com or call at 731-885-5455 for more information.

The 2022 “Let It Glow” drive-thru and walk-thru light show is sponsored by McDonald’s and ATA.

Both the “Let It Glow” Drive-thru and Walk-thru are open 5-9 p.m. from Friday, Nov. 11-Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, and closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Opening night of the “Let It Glow” Walk-thru will be free for Discovery Park members and $5 admission for non-members. Admission to the “Let It Glow” Walk-thru on all other nights is $5 for all guests with ages three and under admitted free. Admission to the “Let It Glow” Drive-thru is $10 per vehicle for all guests every night. Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the gates.

Photo Caption: “Let it Glow” walk-thru 2021.
Photo: Jeremy Rasnic

Thanks to our partnership with Magnolia Place Assisted Living, children 17 and younger will once again receive free admission to Discovery Park of America throughout the month of January 2023. Our museum and heritage park will also be offering adult admission for just $10 in January.

New hours in 2023 will also provide more opportunities to visit. Beginning Jan. 2, 2023, Discovery Park will be open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays through February. From March through August, Discovery Park will be open seven days a week.

Discovery Park was an idea first introduced and then funded for $100 million by the late Robert Kirkland, a Union City businessman and philanthropist, and his wife, the late Jenny Kirkland. The ribbon was cut and doors opened for the first time at Discovery Park on Nov. 1, 2013. The mission that day, as it still is today, was to inspire children and adults to “see beyond” and leave inspired to learn more about the world around them. In the decade since, more than 2.5 million guests have visited and experienced the 100,000-square-foot museum and 50-acre heritage park.

Since Discovery Park opened, local tourism has increased significantly, contributing to the increase in sales tax collected in Union City. For 2012, the last full year before Discovery Park opened, the local tax collected by Union City was $7.1 million. For the eight full years after Discovery Park opened, the average local tax collected annually was $8.3 million — an average annual increase of $1.2 million.

According to statistics recently released by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, tourism spending in 2021 in Obion County was $66.9 million, up 28% over 2020. With the increase in tourism revenue, sales tax collected since 2012 continues to trend upward, with the City of Union City collecting a record of $9.8 million in local sales tax in 2021.

The financial benefits of more visitors to Discovery Park and Obion County are expected to increase. In 2021, Obion County passed a new hotel/motel tax to be paid by those staying in Obion County hotels, bed and breakfasts and vacation lodging facilities of all kinds. In 2020, three new hotels opened next door to Discovery Park and a nearby Hampton Inn is being completed and will open soon.

The presence of Discovery Park was also a contributing factor in the decision to move forward with the Union City loop of I-69, which is now scheduled to open by fall 2023. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 included two high-priority corridors that later became sections of I-69. Corridor 18 from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Memphis, Tennessee, via Evansville, Indiana, runs behind the park with an exit ramp located on each side.

“It took a unique combination of vision, bravery and passion for the people of his region for Robert Kirkland to come up with the idea of a center of education in the first place,” said commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Mark Ezell. “At the time, some questioned the potential for such a large investment in one of our state’s rural communities, so it’s especially important for all of us in Tennessee to join them in the celebration of ten years of success in serving millions of Tennesseans and visitors to our great state from around the world.”

In 2023, there will be many opportunities for children and adults to celebrate Discovery Park’s 10th birthday.

Discovery Park’s new greenhouses and the Farm Credit Mid-America Education Pavilion will open in 2023 along with a new permanent exhibit coming in the summer, “Duck, Duck, Goose: Waterfowl of the Mississippi Flyway,” that is being created in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. It 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.

Temporary exhibits include “Inside the Cornerstone Box,” a display of items our exhibits team discovered inside a cornerstone box that was found in the rubble of Dresden First United Methodist Church of Dresden, Tennessee, after a devastating tornado; updates to the Southern Artist Showcase and the Northwest Tennessee Photography Club Showcase; and a photography exhibit featuring photographs taken by Seth Dortch during waterfowl hunts along the Mississippi Flyway and in the Reelfoot Lake region.

Visitors in 2023 will also discover updates to two of the museums most popular experiences — Discovery Theater and the Water Tables in the Simmons Bank Children’s Exploration Gallery. The Discovery Theater is being upgraded to incorporate a state-of-the-art, laser-illuminated 4K Digital 3D projection system. Also included in the upgrade is the latest high-efficiency 40,000-lumen laser projector on the market, an advanced surround-sound system and the ability to show 3-D films, which will provide significant new programming capabilities in the theater.

The designers of the new Water Tables have opted for a larger experience that incorporates many new interactive activities and snakes throughout the entire gallery. 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.

While many of our popular annual events return in 2023, this will be the first year for a three-day Native American Educational Pow Wow to be held Oct. 27-29, 2023. The goal of the event, unique in Northwest Tennessee, is to provide a place for Indigenous people from tribes around the country to celebrate their culture while educating Discovery Park visitors on this aspect of our nation’s past, present and future.

“All of us who get to work at Discovery Park take our commitment to our important mission very seriously,” said Scott Williams, Discovery Park’s president and CEO. “We join our board, members and others in our community in looking forward to honoring Robert and Jenny Kirkland’s vision by welcoming visitors from around the world in 2023 to help us celebrate 10 years of Discovery Park.”

From January through February 2023, 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 events in 2023, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com/2023.

Click to download a high-resolution photo.

Click here to download a high-resolution photo.

Union City, Tenn. – On Saturday, September 24, 2022, the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit foundation that fosters First Amendment freedoms for all, hosted its inaugural First Amendment Day Festival at Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tenn. More than 3,000 guests experienced a variety of family-friendly, First Amendment-themed games, trivia, crafts and conversations.

“The beauty of the First Amendment is that it’s yours, it’s not anybody else’s,” said Bret Baier, host of Special Report with Bret Baier on the Fox News Channel. “There’s a lot of power in knowing that you can determine your own future based on that.”

During the festival, The Gatlin Brothers, performed some of their biggest hits including “All the Gold in California,” “Night Time Magic” and “Broken Lady.”

On Friday, groups of students grades five through twelve and college students from the University of Tennessee at Martin experienced a day of fun and interactive activities on the topic of the First Amendment. They were led by members of the Freedom Forum team who traveled to Union City from Washington, D.C. where the organization is headquartered.

Also on Friday, Gene Policinski, Senior Fellow for the First Amendment for the Freedom Forum spoke at the Union City Rotary. Policinski, a journalist and a founding editor of USA Today, writes, lectures and is interviewed regularly on news media and First Amendment issues. He noted, “It gives me hope that we have not changed those 45 words of the First Amendment since 1791. I think the middle is growing — the group that just wants to sit down and talk this out.”

About the Freedom Forum

The Freedom Forum’s mission is to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. It works to raise awareness of First Amendment freedoms through education, advocacy and action, sharing the stories of Americans who have exercised their rights to ignite change. Established July 4, 1991, by founder Al Neuharth, the Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501 (c)(3) foundation that advances First Amendment freedoms through initiatives that include Today’s Front Pages, the Free Expression Awards, the Power Shift Project, the annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, the Chips Quinn Scholars and the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media. In addition to its Washington, D.C. headquarters, it has locations at the Al Neuharth Media Center at the University of South Dakota; the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at the University of Mississippi; and the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University.

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.

Pictured L to R: Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers; Scott Williams, Discovery Park’s president and CEO; Rudy Gatlin; Jan Neuharth, Freedom Forum’s chair and CEO; Larry Gatlin; Bret Baier, host of Special Report with Bret Baier on the Fox News Channel.