TN History For Kids » July 2021 Summer Road Shows in Nashville, Chattanooga, Oak Ridge, Clinton and Union City

A TN History for Kids fall retreat at Discovery Park of America

It is our hope and belief that by the summer of 2021, in-person gatherings of teachers will be possible again.

We are, therefore, staging 5 day-long Tennessee History for Kids Summer Road Shows in July 2021:

The K-25 History Center

July 12 (Monday)

Summer Road Show at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. The theme is Tennessee during World War II, with presentations by Bill Carey on prominent people from Tennessee during the war, POW camps in Tennessee, and Tennessee’s war economy. Glenda Bingham of the AMSE and Oak Ridge historian Ray Smith will present on Oak Ridge and Manhattan Project. Attendees will tour the AMSE, the Oak Ridge museum and the brand-new K-25 History Center.

The Museum of Appalachia

July 14 (Wednesday)

Summer Road Show at the Museum of Appalachia in Anderson County. The theme is Tennessee in its Early Years, with Carey presenting on Cherokee culture, Tennessee’s Indian Wars and Tennessee’s statehood era. Guest presenters include Mark and Sherry Finchum of Indian Creek Productions and Sara Lapira of the Museum of Appalachia.

The Medal of Honor Heritage Center

July 16 (Friday)

Summer Road Show with a Civil War theme at the brand-new Medal of Honor Heritage Center in downtown Chattanooga. Presentations on the Medal of Honor Heritage Center (led by Hannah Sher); on Civil War in Tennessee (Bill Carey); and on the Battles of Chattanooga (led by Chris Young of Chickamauga National Battlefield). We will spend the morning at the museum; then ride the incline railway to the top of Lookout Mountain, where Chris Young will take over!

The Hermitage: Home of Andrew Jackson

July 21 (Wednesday)

Summer Road Show at The Hermitage in Nashville. The focus will be on Tennessee in the Early 1800s, with Carey presentating on slavery, the Rhea map of 1832, and railroads. After lunch, Erin Adams of The Hermitage will present on President Andrew Jackson and take attendees on a “behind the glass” tour of Jackson’s home.

Discovery Park of America

July 23 (Friday)

Summer Road Show at Discovery Park of America in Union City. No specific theme announced yet, although the event will feature presentations by Carey; by Willy Bearden of the culture of cotton in Memphis; and a tour of Discovery Park by Polly Brasher.

We will publish a registration form and start accepting reservations for the various events on Monday, March 15.

About Summer Road Shows:

The format of these events will be similar to the ones we did in 2019-2020 at the Andrew Johnson National Monument, Carnton/Carter, Discovery Park of America, Scopes Trial Museum, and Fort Loudoun/Sequoyah Birthplace State Park.

Each event will run from about 8:30 am until 4 pm.

There will be a small charge for each event, mainly to cover the cost of lunch and tour guide and admissions fees (between $25 and $40, depending on the event).

Each attending teacher will receive a certificate for 6 hours of professional development.

We will publish a registration form and begin accepting reservations for the various events on Monday, March 15.

If, because of the ongoing pandemic, we have to cancel one or more of these events, we will do so by July 1. If we have to limit the number of attendees at one or more of the events, we will also do so. We will observe social distancing and wear masks if if is still necessary at that time.