Fun is "Spring"ing up all over West Tennessee

There are all kinds of adventures waiting in West Tennessee this Spring. From the World's Biggest Fish Fry to the Exit 56 Blues Fest.


One unique thing about West Tennessee is that everything is within easy driving distance and won't cost a fortune to enjoy. Check out our latest newsletter for some fun suggestions ...


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Union City Resident Honored for Museum Work

Sonia Outlaw-Clark presents Hugh Wade with a commendation for his extensive volunteer work with the Obion County Museum in Union City, Tennessee. The award was issued by the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) during its annual conference held March 23-25. Clark is the West Tenn. At-Large Representative for TAM.
Photo by Glenda Caudle, Union City Messenger

Union City, Tenn., resident Hugh Wade was honored March 28, 2011, at a meeting of the Obion County Museum board of directors. Sonia Outlaw-Clark, the West Tennessee representative for the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) and the director of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, presented Wade a commendation issued to the local museum earlier this month at a state meeting.

Wade has put three years of work into a  military history exhibit now on display at the museum. Visitors can view the exhibit at the Obion County Museum, 1004 Edwards Street, Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m., and by appointment (731-885-6774). The military exhibit features thousands of items collected and catalogued by Wade.

The exhibit will also be available for viewing Saturday, May 21, during "Day at the Museum." There will be lots of outdoor family activities on this day as well. 

Shiloh Battlefield to Host National Park Week Events

Superintendent Woody Harrell is pleased to announce that Shiloh National Military Park will be hosting special programs during National Park Week 2011. Join us April 16th–24th as America celebrates this week long observance.

“We are eager to host events for National Park Week 2011. This is an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about their parks. To coincide with these special programs being offered at Shiloh Battlefield, this week has also been designated a fee free week.” stated Superintendent Harrell.

In conjunction with National Park Week, Shiloh National Military Park will present a different program starting on Sunday April 17, 2011. The interpretive programs will provide visitors the opportunity to learn about the vast cultural and natural resources of Shiloh Battlefield, added Harrell. 

The programs for the upcoming week are listed below, and visitors may register, and receive additional information about each program by contacting the Shiloh visitor center at 731-689-5696.

April 17 (5pm) Arial Acrobats of the Night (Bat Program) meets at Shiloh visitor center

April 18 (1pm-3:30pm) Shiloh Indian Mound Program Series meets at the Shiloh Indian Mound kiosk

April 19 (6pm) The Establishment of Shiloh National Military Park meets at Shiloh visitor center

April 20 (5pm) Meet the Eagles meets at Shiloh visitor center at 5pm

              (11am) Meet the Eagles meets at Tennessee River Museum

April 21 (6pm) The Civil War Begins: Fort Sumter meets at Shiloh visitor center

              (1:30pm) Arial Acrobats of the Night (Bat Program) meets at Tennessee River Museum

April 22 (9-1, 1-4) All Day Tours of Shiloh Battlefield meets at Shiloh visitor center

               (11am) The Establishment of Shiloh National Military Park meets at Tennessee River Museum

April 23 (9am) Junior Ranger Day meets at Shiloh visitor center

April 24 (1:30pm) The Monuments of Shiloh: Memorials of Stone meets at Shiloh visitor center

Director elected to Tennessee Association of Museums Board

Seventeen West Tennessee museum professionals traveled to Johnson City, Tenn., March 23-25, to attend the Tennessee Association of Museums annual conference. Pictured are: (seated, from left) Nancy Bassett, Collierville, Dian McGuire, Lexington, Barbara Andrews, Memphis, and Norma Steele, Paris; (standing, from left) Tracy Lauritzen Wright, Memphis, Don Bassett, Collierville, Wanda Conger, Parsons, Bill Hickerson, Humboldt, Branson Townsend, Parsons, Renee Moss, Adamsville, Bill Cloar, Dyersburg, Joyce Riddell, Lexington, Danny Walden, Dyersburg, Suzy Herron, Paris, Polly Brasher, Union City, Jestein Lamey, Memphis, and Sonia Outlaw-Clark, Brownsville.

Seventeen West Tennessee museum professionals joined others from across the state for the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) annual conference. This year’s event was held in Johnson City, Tenn., March 23-25.

During the annual business meeting, Sonia Outlaw-Clark, director of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, was elected to a two year term on the TAM Board of Directors as an At Large Representative for West Tennessee.

Other West Tennessee representatives elected to serve on the board were Deborah Shaw Laman, Casey Jones Museum, Jackson, and Jacob Shock, Museum of Biblical History, Collierville.

The purpose of TAM is to encourage and improve the practices of museums in the state, to stimulate public interest and promote the exchange of ideas among museums and museum professionals while preserving Tennessee’s cultural, historical and scientific heritage. To learn more about TAM, visit www.tnmuseums.org.

Staff & Volunteers Tour Smithsonian Exhibit

Over 20 staff and volunteers toured the Smithsonian Exhibit "Journey Stories" in Mercer, Tenn.

The Center's staff and volunteers were treated to a special viewing of the Smithsonian Exhibit "Journey Stories" Monday, February 28.

Mr. Billy telling stories on the way to Mercer.

Traveling by bus, we headed to Mercer compliments of the Big Black Creek Historical Association. Our tour guide was Mr. Billy King.

Mary, Marcina and Sandra

The exhibit traces our migration from the Native Americans to present day. What really makes this exhibit special is the companion pieces put together by the BBCHA and the fact that Mercer is the smallest venue a Smithsonian exhibit has been.

Nina, Kathy and Janet

The exhibit will be on display for public viewing on Fridays and Saturdays, 10-5; and Sunday, 2-5, through April 3.

Visit BBCHA website for more details:
http://www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com/1the_smithsonian_museums_traveling_exhibit_in_mercer_tn

Carolyn and Becky

The whole group enjoying the exhibit.

Beth, Landon and Bro. Tim

Bagels and Barbeque opening draws crowd



David Levy (left) and Fred Silverstein talk about their ancestors and how they came to Brownsville during the opening reception of “Bagels and Barbeque: The Jewish Experience in Tennessee” February 4, 2011. Levy is a descendant of the Felsenthal and Sternberger families. Silverstein is a descendent of the Tamm family. Both families operated businesses in Brownsville for many years.

“Bagels and Barbeque: The Jewish Experience in Tennessee” officially opened Friday, February 4, at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center with a reception hosted by First Friday Forum.

More than 60 attendees enjoyed sampling a combination of foods, including bagels and barbecue, while browsing the exhibit and learning more about the contributions the Jewish community has made to Tennessee since the early 1800s. The exhibit includes information and artifacts on loan from both the Brownsville and Jackson communities.

Dr. Candace Adelson, a senior curator with the Tennessee State Museum and coordinating curator of this exhibit, was on hand to share the purpose of the exhibit and some interesting facts of how the exhibit was put together.

David Levy and Fred Silverstein shared stories of their ancestors and how they came to settle in Brownsville. Jewish families such as the Tamms and Felsenthals owned many of Brownsville’s early businesses.

Dr. Pam Dennis, curator of the Jackson exhibit, shared the impact that the yellow fever epidemic had on both the Jackson and Brownsville Jewish community.

The exhibit will be on display until March 27 and is free to the public. First Friday Forum is a group of citizens who met on the first Friday of each month at Temple Adas Israel. The meeting includes a short service followed by a program and discussion of local interest.

“Journey Stories” comes to Mercer

Kathryn and Ray Dixon were among several Brownsville residents who toured the Smithsonian exhibit “Journey Stories” Sunday, February 27, in Mercer, Tenn.

"Journey Stories,” a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, is the tales of how we came to America. From Native Americans to new American citizens, our history is filled with stories of people leaving behind everything – families and possessions – to reach a new life in another state, across the continent, or even across an ocean.

The Big Black Creek Historical Association (BBCHA) in Mercer, Tenn., is one of only six Tennessee museums, and the smallest venue according to the Smithsonian's staff, to be awarded the privilege of displaying this exhibit.

Journey Stories opened Sunday, February 27, at the Pennington Building, and will be on display Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sundays 2 - 5 p.m., through April 3. The exhibit can also be viewed by appointment weekdays and evenings by calling 731-427-7897 or 731-234-3497.

Several weekend events are planned as compliments to the exhibit beginning with the showing of the movie “Gone with the Wind” Saturday, March 5, at the Ebenezer Church building. For more information about this, the exhibit and other activities, visit: www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com.