Fort Defiance Interpretive Center will host a living history event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, to commemorate the surrender of Fort Defiance to Union soldiers in 1862.
The surrender of Clarksville was a significant event in Civil War history, opening the South to Union forces and the capture of Nashville. Uniformed soldiers will provide living history and cannon firing demonstrations. Visitors are invited to tour the permanent exhibit and view the film, “Crossroads of Change.”
“This yearly event is always special but even more so this year as the event is taking place on the true date of the surrender of Clarksville,” said William Parker, Historical Interpreter at Fort Defiance. “February 19 will be exactly 160 years ago that the Union forces captured Clarksville from the Confederates.”
This is a free event that is open to the public. Activities and demonstrations will be inside the Interpretive Center and outdoors.
For information about Fort Defiance, visit ClarksvilleParkRec.com or call 931-645-7476.
About Fort Defiance
The Fort Defiance Civil War Park and Interpretive Center, 120 Duncan Street, is operated by the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department. The fort, which overlooks the confluence of the Red and Cumberland rivers, was a cornerstone of the Confederate defense of the area and an important part of the Union occupation of Clarksville. In 1982, Judge and Mrs. Sam Boaz donated the property to the City of Clarksville. In 2008, the City secured a $2.2 million federal grant that was combined with local funding to build the interpretive center and walking trails. The Center features exhibits about the local area and the fort during the Civil War.
