Dover, Tennessee – On December 14, visitors young and old will have an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit at the historic Dover Hotel, more widely known as the “Surrender House,” of the Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
National Park staff and volunteers will demonstrate how to make Christmas ornaments similar to those of the Civil War period. Visitors taking part will then have the opportunity to make ornaments to decorate the hotel tree for those visiting during the remainder of the season to enjoy. Participants will be encouraged to make their own ornament to take home, also.
The program, entitled “Christmas on the Cumberland: the Dover Hotel of the 1860s,” will be offered on Saturday, December 14, at the Dover Hotel. The hotel (Park Tour Stop #10) is located at 101 Petty Street, Dover. The hands-on event will be offered between 10 am – 3 pm.
In addition to ornament making, discussions about period American holiday traditions, decorations, of Christmas on the Civil War home front, and of mementos and care packages sent to soldiers of North and South by children back home, will also be part of the Saturday offering.
For more information, please contact the Ranger staff at 931-232-5706 x 0. In the event of inclement winter weather, and for an event status, please visit the park’s Facebook
page, https://www.facebook.com/fortdonelsonnps, or by calling the park’s event/weather line at 931-232-0827.
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