This enlightening exhibit features Sergeant Alvin York, one of the most decorated and colorful soldiers of WWI. Born in Pall Mall, Tennessee, Sergeant York was of humble beginnings as the third of eleven children born in a one room log cabin, son of Mary Elizabeth Brooks and William Uriah York.
Developed by the Museum of the American Military Experience, and enhanced by Discovery Park of America historians and fabricators, the 3,000 square foot exhibit explores Sergeant York’s rural roots, illustrious military career, and colorful personality.
-Seven years ago on October 8th, Sergeant York displayed valor and courage worthy of the attention of the Saturday Evening Post and eventually the major motion picture industry when he single handedly killed twenty-one German soldiers and captured 132 more. Until now, the movie release in 1941 entitled Sergeant York By Howard Hawks and staring Gary Cooper has provided the most compelling story of Sergeant York, although much of it is fictitious.
More recently, between 2006 and 2009, an international team of historians, archaeologists, and geographers made a series of expeditions to the Western Front battlefields of WWI to rediscover the site where Sergeant York made his epic stand against overwhelming odds and was awarded the Medal of Honor, among other honors, for his courage under fire. In the Footsteps of Sergeant York, a new exhibit from the Museum of the American Military Experience, explores the research behind the expeditions, the marriage of history and science, the Alvin York story, the men who lost their lives, recovered artifacts, and sheds new light on what really happened that fateful day in October 1918 that made Sergeant York one of America’s best known military heroes.
Discovery Park of America has expanded the 800 square foot exhibit to 3,000 square feet of historical information about Sergeant York and his life. In addition to the 18 exhibit panels, 8 exhibit cases of artifacts and a supporting interactive website, Discovery Park has built a winding wall that allows guests to see what life was like when York was born, travel through a trench much like the one he hunkered down in during the war, enjoy a taste of the famous movie portraying his life, and see additional artifacts of times in which York lived and fought.
Members of Discovery Park of America are invited to be the first to tour the new exhibit at a special "Member’s Only" Reception from 5 -7 pm on Thursday, Oct. 8th. For a $10 contribution, Discovery Park members will enjoy hors’devours and a free beverage before heading to the Reelfoot Room to tour "In the Footsteps of Sergeant York."
The exhibit will be open to the public on Saturday, October 10th. The exhibit is free with admission to Discovery Park.
For more information about the Sergeant York exhibit, visit Discovery Park’s website at www.discoveryparkofamerica.com.
Discovery Park opened November 1, 2013 and has celebrated its 500,000th visitor last weekend. The venue is a unique blend of history, science, education and fun.
In addition to the "In the Footsteps of Alvin York" exhibit, Discovery Park has the following events scheduled between now and the end of the year:
October 1 – 31- McDonald’s Pumpkin Village
October 31- Halloween Costume Contest (Free admission for children through age 12 in costume.)
November 11- Veteran’s Day- Free admission for all military
December 1-31- Christmas Village Drive Through (Sponsored by City of Union City)
December 6, 13 & 20- Polar Express (Sponsored by Simmons Bank)
December 31- New Year’s Eve Party in Dino Hall (Featuring Magi and sponsored by KYTN) $50 per ticket
January 29 – May 1- Bodies Revealed Exhibition (See inside the human body!)
