Tennessee’s Shiloh National Military Park, a masterpiece of Civil War interpretation and preservation, will hold the 150th commemoration of its strategic battle during a series of events taking place March 29 to April 8.
The state’s 2012 Sesquicentennial Signature Event: Invasions by Rail and River: The Battle of Shiloh will be held April 4 and 5 at Pickwick Landing State Park in Pickwick Dam.
There will be a red carpet film premiere of a state-of-the-art documentary The Story of Shiloh: Fiery Trial at 7pm on April 4.
Official Opening Ceremony will take place at 9am April 5 and will feature a forum with America’s foremost historians on the battle of Shiloh, living history demonstrations, a special Sesquicentennial Civil War exhibit offering rare and unique artifacts from the Battle of Shiloh and a musical performance by The 52nd Regimental String Band. The event will kick off with the firing of an official Shiloh cannon at Pickwick Landing State Park.
The Shiloh National Military Park will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh with a "Grand Illumination" on the evening of April 7. Luminaries will be placed around the battlefield representing the 23,746 killed, wounded or missing at Shiloh. The illumination will begin at dusk and end at 10pm. Other special activities will take place April 6 to 8 including special ranger led hikes, at corresponding time and place, 150 years later. For more information on these events visit Shiloh National Military Park
Other events not to be missed on March 29 to 31 are two reenactments that will feature more than 6,000 re-enactors and more than 100 cannons. To register for these two events visit 150th Civil War Events or Armies of Tennessee.
For more information about top events in Tennessee take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Tennessee.