Later in the evening, Lionel Crews, Ph.D., associate professor with the department of chemistry and physics at UTM shared his thoughts about the impact of Discovery Park on the region and introduced a video featuring some of the museum’s earliest volunteers. What you see here would be millions of dollars’ worth of creative time that was provided free by local citizens.” Williams pointed out that Robert Kirkland was always proud of the contributions from his friends and neighbors. We can’t thank the people here enough who have helped us out.

Kirkland said: “We are so pleased with what the committees did through the years. Williams read a statement from Discovery Park founder Robert Kirkland that the philanthropist made on opening day, Nov. A served dinner, prepared by award-winning chefs David Jones and Karla Lawrence of Artisan Kitchen of Paducah, included a 10th birthday gourmet cupcake.ĭiscovery Park CEO Scott Williams welcomed the audience and noted the spirit of volunteerism that defined the museum since the beginning. Musicians from the “Symphony on the Move” program of the Jackson Symphony performed individually throughout the entry level of the museum during the cocktail hour and then provided dinner entertainment as a group. Now the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s public information officer, she previously spent two decades as a television news journalist working in Jackson, Tennessee Oklahoma City and Seattle. Keli McAlister was event host and master of ceremonies. The honorees’ names, photos and bios have been added to a kiosk alongside those of the 10 previous honorees. James Ross, president & CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare.Keith Carver, Ph.D., senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.Ambassador to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development Kirkland Discovery Awards were attended by a sold-out crowd from around the region who joined Discovery Park in celebrating the honorees, all of whom have deep roots in the region. On Saturday evening, March 4, Discovery Park of America kicked off its 10th birthday year celebration by honoring four individuals who, like the museum and heritage park, inspire those whose lives they’ve touched. You can still pull the cord and make the whistle blow, just like they did more than a hundred years ago.Union City, Tenn. The bright red caboose, manufactured in 1946, was used by Gulf Mobile and Ohio Railroad. All these were manufactured in the early 1960s.īe sure to check out the 1913 steam engine, the coal tender and the caboose located across the platform. Included here are cars for riding, eating, and drinking comfortably, and even includes a full kitchen for preparing the meals. As you walk the length of the cars on this track, you’ll see why train travel became a comfortable and sometimes glamourous way to get from town to town or across the whole country. The line running from Union City to Hickman-and right through Discovery Park’s property-was abandoned in 1951.Īfter checking out The Depot, you’ll want to take a seat on Discovery Park’s train and relax a while or walk from car to car and experience this unique example of mid-twentieth-century train travel. The Nashville & Northwestern Railroad was sold to the Nashville & Chattanooga in 1871, and the Nashville & Chattanooga changed its name to the Nashville, Chattonooga & St.

After the grading between Hickman and Union City was essentially complete, the property was sold to the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad in 1855, which railed the line and opened it to traffic before 1860. The Hickman & Obion Railroad was incorporated in 1853-1854 to build a line from Hickman, Kentucky to some point in Tennessee to connect to the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. Louis (NC&StL) railroad track once ran through the property that Discovery Park now sits upon. This is an appropriate place for a depot because a portion of Nashville, Chattanooga & St. The Train Depot is modeled after two historic train stations: Matson Switch, located nearby between Woodland Mills, Tennessee and Hickman, Kentucky and the Cookeville Train Depot in Cookeville, Tennessee.

Discovery park of america photos