Steve Ball
Date of publication of the press release: 14 August 2024
Contact: Chris Mekow, 731.689.5696
Shiloh is excited to announce a full day of activities to celebrate the National Park Service’s birthday on August 24, 2024. The day will include a special ranger hike, a junior ranger camp for kids, cannon firing demonstrations, tours of Shiloh National Cemetery, a Civil War-era musical, and birthday cake!
“The National Park Service turns 108 years old on Sunday, August 25, so we will celebrate its birthday on Saturday, August 24, at Shiloh with many activities for the public,” said Superintendent Catherine Bragaw. “We would like to invite all of our visitors, park partners, friends and neighbors to celebrate with us,” Bragaw continued.
Activities begin at 10:00 a.m. when Ranger Timothy Arnold leads a two-hour walking tour titled “Fraley Field: The Bloody Battle Begins.” Follow in the footsteps of Colonel Everett Peabody’s morning patrol as it encounters Confederate skirmishers of the 3rd Mississippi Battalion at Fraley Field.
Hikers will learn about the approach routes of the Union patrol and Confederate skirmishers as they met at Fraley Field for the first shot of the battle. Then follow the path of Prentiss’ division as it fought its way back to Peabody’s camp.
The hike runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Hikers meet at the park visitor center before heading to the trailhead. The hike is approximately 3.5 miles and covers moderate terrain. Participants should wear clothing and shoes appropriate for the weather. Insect repellent, sunscreen, and water are recommended.
Please call the park visitor center at 731-689-5696 to register for the hike.
Calling all Junior Rangers! Volunteers are needed for the 1st Shiloh Volunteer Infantry Regiment and Mekows’ Battery (Battery A 1st Shiloh Light Artillery)!
In celebration of the National Park Service’s birthday, Shiloh National Military Park is offering a Junior Ranger Artillery Kids Camp on Saturday, August 24th. We have three programs that immerse kids in American history. The first program takes kids through the “School of the Soldier” where they learn how to train like a soldier in the Civil War. The second program shows kids what the artillery did during the Battle of Shiloh and they participate in some cannon drills (no live firing) as part of a crew. The third and final program covers the importance of standard bearers in the Civil War, and you’ll learn about flags and have the opportunity to design your own flag!
The program begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Shiloh Visitors Center and ends at noon. This camp is free for registered Junior Rangers and their guardians, so please call 731-689-5696 to register today.
The roar of the cannons will once again echo across the Shiloh Battlefield. Join the Shiloh Cannon Crew as they present Civil War cannon firing demonstrations in honor of the NPS’s birthday. Learn about the duties of the gunners and the tools and weapons they used during the war.
Each demonstration will feature the firing of a 6-pounder field gun across the street from the park’s visitor center. Demonstrations will take place on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
As part of the NPS anniversary, Shiloh Rangers are offering guided tours of Shiloh National Cemetery. These 30-minute tours introduce visitors to some of the fascinating people and their stories hidden behind the cemetery walls. Learn about the first surgeon killed in action during the war, the standard bearers of the 16thth The Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and the two Confederates buried here.
Cemetery tours are at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Meet the park ranger at the gate of the National Cemetery; registration is not required.
At 5:00 p.m., Shiloh proudly presents the acclaimed Civil War music of Steve and Lisa Ball. They will perform some of the most popular songs of the mid-19th century.th Century and the stories behind these songs.
Playing period instruments and wearing Civil War-era clothing, the Ball’s are modern-day troubadours of Civil War-era music. Their historical research, storytelling and musical skills have entertained thousands of people across the United States. The Ball’s will play two 45-minute sets. Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets and enjoy the music on the lawn of the park’s visitor center.
