Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Park to Hold Anniversary Celebration August 17-19

Crockett Days Festivities Will Help Commemorate Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary

LIMESTONE, Tenn. – The year 2012 marks Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary, and to help commemorate this important milestone, Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Park will host a weekend of special community events beginning Friday, August 17 through Sunday, August 19.  The events are open to the public.  

“Our annual Crockett Days weekend is a great opportunity to thank the park’s many patrons and the entire local community for their support throughout the years and invite community members to see what the park has to offer,” said Park Manager Mark Halback.  “This three-day celebration will offer something for all ages and we hope you can come out and join us for this family-friendly event.”

Park staff and local historical interpreters will be on hand throughout the weekend celebrating the life and times of David Crockett, one of Tennessee’s most famous sons.  Explore living history demonstrations and hear interesting tales of life on the frontier.  There will be a number of activities, workshops and kids’ games, in addition to crafts, period food and live music.  

Events will begin at noon on Friday, with a special Tennessee State Parks’ 75th Anniversary tribute slated for 4 p.m. at the park’s visitor center, including light refreshments and a tour of Tennessee State Parks’ new traveling anniversary exhibit.  The new traveling museum recently hit the road to tour state parks and various communities, sharing Tennessee State Parks’ rich and storied history. Enclosed in a colorful trailer emblazoned with various images and logos, the exhibit interprets the origins and heritage of Tennessee’s state park system. 

Saturday events will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday festivities will kick off at 11 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m.  While the events are free, donations to the Pioneer Friends of Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Park will be accepted to benefit future park programs and efforts.   

The Tennessee State Parks system was established through legislation in 1937, and those laws – with modifications and additions over the years – remain the framework for park operations today.  As in most states, Tennessee began in cooperation with federal programs that instigated individual parks. Later, Depression era recovery programs gave a boost to the idea and the possibility of creating parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also delved further into the actual planning and construction of what would become the first of 54 Tennessee State Parks. 

Today, there is a state park within an hour’s drive of just about anywhere in Tennessee.  A 2009 University of Tennessee study highlights the positive economic impacts that state parks provide local communities, particularly in rural areas of the state.  The study found that for every dollar spent on trips to Tennessee State Parks, an additional $1.11 of economic activity was generated throughout the state.  When the direct and indirect expenditures were combined, the impact of Tennessee State Parks to the state’s economy was $1.5 billion in total industry output, supporting more than 18,600 jobs. 

“Our vision statement highlights the inherent value of our natural environment, along with the value of the many physical reminders of Tennessee’s past,” added Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill.  “Tennessee’s state parks have played such an important role in our history, and they play a critical role in our health and quality of life, which will benefit Tennesseans well into the future.” 

Tennessee’s state parks deliver a rich fabric of natural landscapes, wild places, preserved ecologies, outdoor recreational opportunities and protected historic scenes and resources – together representing the heritage of Tennessee in the landscape.  

Tennessee's 54 state parks and 82 state natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families or business and professional groups.  State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses.  For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free at 1-888-867-2757. For upcoming events in connection with the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, please visit the state parks website at www.tnstateparks.com.

In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation launched an innovative new microsite at www.tnstateparks75.com. Established in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the microsite displays Tennessee State Parks’ rich heritage and showcases the many outdoor adventures awaiting state park visitors through rich media and dynamic content. 

Davy Crockett's birthplace has been preserved by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as an historic site within the state park system. The site consists of 105 partially wooded acres of land along the Nolichucky River in Greene County, Tennessee. For more information about the park, call (423) 257-2167 or visit www.tnstateparks.com/DavyCrockettSHP. 

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