Dover, Tenn.–Fort Donelson National Battlefield announces a variety of programs and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. The scheduled offerings are in observance of the 161st anniversary of the campaigns for Fort Henry and Donelson.
Events begin on February 4th at 2:00 pm at Fort Heiman. Rangers will present a program on the battle of Fort Henry and the taking of Fort Heiman. The national park will offer Battle of Fort Donelson-specific anniversary programming from Saturday, February 11th thru Thursday, February 16, with several events and programs throughout the these days.
Weekend programming includes period rifle and cannon demonstrations, an encampment of Kentucky infantry, a “caravan auto tour” around the park and town of Dover – the entire community being encompassed in the multi-day battle, and several other events.
In addition to programs at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, the park is co-hosting on Saturday, February 11th a symposium of speakers at the Stewart County Visitor Center.
February 14 will prove a wonderful time to spend Valentines’ Day learning about the “iron Valentines’” of artillery shells that exchanged between the Confederate fort and a flotilla of “state of the art” ironclad gunboats on that date, 161 years before.
In the interest of safety, in the event of inclement weather, events are subject to cancelation. Information as to event status will be available online, or by contacting the Ranger office at 931-232-0576 x0.
Additional schedule information can be currently accessed online via the national park Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/fortdonelsonnps or web page at: https://www.nps.gov/fodo/planyourvisit/events.htm , or by calling 931-232-0576 x 0.