200 community members met at the Obion County Public Library. “Vision committees were formed to survey the community’s needs and recommend content,” said Williams. Their efforts, combined with Kirkland’s vision and financial investment, culminated in Discovery Park. The park features exhibits, galleries, programs, concerts, and hands-on experiences designed to inspire both children and adults in the region to learn more about the world. As one guest described it, the park is like, “your favorite millionaire uncle took a trip through time and around the world and built you a living postcard in your backyard to tell you the story.” Today, Discovery Park stays true to its mission by involving the community in its planning and operations. Focus groups and education advisory groups help shape exhibits, programs, and classes. The leadership team supports local non-profits by providing meeting space and complimentary tickets and serves on various boards. “The Kirkland Scholarship ensures that students from K-12 schools with over 50% qualifying for free or reduced lunches can visit for free. The board of directors, representing multiple business sectors, financially supports the museum,” said Williams. Discovery Park partners with hundreds of organizations for educational and event purposes. They also accommodate special needs by offering quiet visits outside regular hours at no extra cost. “For example, students from Union City Elementary Special Education participate in decorating a specific tree every Christmas as part of their annual celebration. We also have two part-time teammates with disabilities from St. John Community Service who are among our most popular with their co-workers and our guests,” said Williams. “We work with area group homes caring for individuals who require one-on-one assistance by providing unnamed annual passes for their caregivers, something that is not available to the public. Additionally, we provide free admission for parents and all children in foster families.” Visitors to Discovery Park of America can immerse themselves in local history and culture both within the museum and throughout the park. The iconic 100,000-square-foot museum features ten exhibit galleries covering science, space, technology, the military, natural history, regional history, art, transportation, and more. Other highlights include a 4-D simulation of early 1800’s earthquakes, a 20,000-gallon aquarium showcasing regional aquatic life, dinosaur fossils, military equipment, vintage automobiles, and a Titan missile. “Interactive displays focus on STEM topics, complemented by hands-on experiences and films from Giant Screen Films in the theater,” said Williams. “The park also boasts the region’s tallest observation tower, visual arts galleries, unique meeting spaces for groups of various sizes, and gourmet southern meals from Sabin’s Café Catering.” Another feature one can visit is the heritage park that includes a 50-acre outdoor park, which includes a man-made river flowing through the extensively landscaped property, along with waterfalls, bridges, and other water features. “Visitors can explore a reproduction of an early 20th-century town featuring a working gristmill, windmill, and one-room schoolhouse. They can stroll through Japanese, European, and American gardens, visit a mid-19th-century frontier settlement, and see a 120-year-old church restored to its original condition,” said Williams. “The park includes a turn-of-the-century train station and depot with a locomotive, cars, and caboose. Liberty Hall showcases a replica of the Liberty Bell and an exhibit on American freedom. Additionally, a unique nature-inspired playground features the PlayOdyssey Tower, log steppers, balance beams, hillside climbers, slides, and a mini zip line.” There are many events that happen throughout the year at Discovery Park of America, some happening soon. “We will celebrate David Crockett’s birthday on August 17th with interactive activities, live demonstrations by craftspeople, a performance and community jam session led by Mulberry Jam, and the unveiling of new artifacts on display in three areas of the heritage park,” said Williams. Along with this, “Pumpkin Village” returns in October with a section of the park enhanced with pumpkins, mums, and other festive fall decorations. Other popular events will return later this year including “The Northwest Tennessee Educational Powwow” and the “Let it Glow” Drive-thru and Walk-thru, as well as the “Real Bodies: The Exhibition” will be on display May 10 – September 1, 2025. “The goal is for those who visit the museum to leave having experienced something new that ignites a desire to learn more,” said Williams. “The location in Northwest Tennessee, in the middle of numerous rural counties that have been deemed at risk or threatened, makes the mission even more vital.” For more information on The Discovery Park of America, head to www.discoveryparkofamerica.com INTHEVUE.COM | AUGUST 2024 77
