2 Tennessee State Parks Receive Grants From 250th Anniversary Project

Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park in Pickett County and Johnsonville State Historic Park in Humphreys County have received grants from the Tennessee America 250 project, part of the United States' celebration of its semiquincentennial in 2026.

Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park received $20,000 and Johnsonville State Historic Park $19,575. The grants are administered by the Tennessee State Museum on behalf of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced a year-long, statewide America 250 celebration and is visiting all 95 counties to mark the milestone.

"We are thrilled that Tennessee State Parks will be part of the nation's 250th anniversary in this way," said Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "Both parks play special roles in the state parks system, and we are grateful for this opportunity to see projects for them come alive."

"Tennessee State Parks seeks to enrich, engage, and inspire all Tennesseans and our visitors," said Rob Barrett, director of Interpretive Programming and Education for Tennessee State Parks. "Grants like the Tennessee America 250 Project help us share Tennessee's role in shaping our nation through improved research and resources. We are grateful for this grant and others, as they allow people more opportunities to attend a ranger program or visit a park exhibit. There they can see and touch the places and stories which have shaped our culture and inform our future."

The Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park grant will be used to create an Interpretive Master Plan for the park's museum, which has not been updated in over 30 years. The plan will evaluate and refine exhibit themes that explore Hull's life and legacy as a pioneer of trade liberalization and global diplomacy. Hull was a U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, winning the 1945 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Johnsonville State Historic Park grant will support placement of permanent grave markers at the African Methodist Cemetery, which contains several veterans from the Civil War and World War I. This preservation will protect an important historic resource, foster education, and advance themes of commemoration and unity. Johnsonville State Historic Park is a day-use park named for former President Andrew Johnson, who also served as the Union military governor of Tennessee during the Civil War.

"I am inspired by the excitement across the state to commemorate our nation's 250th anniversary," said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum and chair of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. "Next year will be filled with exhibitions, programs, festivals, and preservation of our local and state history. We hope that these projects inspire Tennesseans across the state to engage with the anniversary in 2026."

The Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial was created to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country. It recognizes Tennessee's integral role in that event and the impact of Tennesseans on the nation's past, present, and future.

The State of Tennessee made available $6,435,000 to the Tennessee State Museum to administer on behalf of the commission, with the majority of funding to be regranted to Tennessee communities to support statewide America 250 activities.

View a complete list of first round Tennessee America 250 grantees, counties and amounts.