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.