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The U.S. House of Representatives has approved
legislation that includes $500,000 for driving tour
improvements at Stones River National Battlefield,
according to U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon.
"Stones River is our top tourist attraction in
Rutherford County, with more than a quarter million
visitors every year," said Gordon, D-Murfreesboro.
"With all the additional interest in Civil War history
surrounding the war's sesquicentennial, we should
expect to see extra visitors and extra business."
Work has already begun on the first phase of a plan
to improve access to the park. Construction has
begun to reconfigure and pave the visitor center
parking lot, repave a portion of the park tour road
and build accessible trails in the visitor center area.
Phase two of this project will create a new entrance
to the battlefield on Thompson Lane.
The new funding included in the House bill would
allow the Park Service to connect the existing tour
road directly to the new Thompson Lane entrance.
Trail and road projects will build on recent
improvements in interpretive trails and signage. The
funding was included in the Transportation,
Housing and Urban Development Appropriations
Act, which now awaits consideration by the Senate.
Superintendent Stuart Johnson noted that Gordon
was instrumental in securing funding for each
project, and applauded the inclusion of new
funding in the bill.
"As the park embarks on preparations for the
sesquicentennial, it's especially appropriate that we
will be making these improvements," Johnson said.
"Extending the tour road to Thompson Lane will
make it easier for visitors to get to and get around
the battlefield."
With Gordon's help, the battlefield's protected area
has doubled in size since 1988.
"The battlefield is a national treasure right here in
Murfreesboro," Gordon said. "These improvements
will make it more accessible to local residents as
well as to visitors from outside of the area."
The Stones River National Battlefield sits on
approximately 600 acres of land next to the Stones R
iver near Murfreesboro. Between Dec. 31, 1862,
and Jan. 2, 1863, more than 82,000 Union and
Confederate soldiers fought on the battlefield,
leaving 23,000 dead and wounded.
legislation that includes $500,000 for driving tour
improvements at Stones River National Battlefield,
according to U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon.
"Stones River is our top tourist attraction in
Rutherford County, with more than a quarter million
visitors every year," said Gordon, D-Murfreesboro.
"With all the additional interest in Civil War history
surrounding the war's sesquicentennial, we should
expect to see extra visitors and extra business."
Work has already begun on the first phase of a plan
to improve access to the park. Construction has
begun to reconfigure and pave the visitor center
parking lot, repave a portion of the park tour road
and build accessible trails in the visitor center area.
Phase two of this project will create a new entrance
to the battlefield on Thompson Lane.
The new funding included in the House bill would
allow the Park Service to connect the existing tour
road directly to the new Thompson Lane entrance.
Trail and road projects will build on recent
improvements in interpretive trails and signage. The
funding was included in the Transportation,
Housing and Urban Development Appropriations
Act, which now awaits consideration by the Senate.
Superintendent Stuart Johnson noted that Gordon
was instrumental in securing funding for each
project, and applauded the inclusion of new
funding in the bill.
"As the park embarks on preparations for the
sesquicentennial, it's especially appropriate that we
will be making these improvements," Johnson said.
"Extending the tour road to Thompson Lane will
make it easier for visitors to get to and get around
the battlefield."
With Gordon's help, the battlefield's protected area
has doubled in size since 1988.
"The battlefield is a national treasure right here in
Murfreesboro," Gordon said. "These improvements
will make it more accessible to local residents as
well as to visitors from outside of the area."
The Stones River National Battlefield sits on
approximately 600 acres of land next to the Stones R
iver near Murfreesboro. Between Dec. 31, 1862,
and Jan. 2, 1863, more than 82,000 Union and
Confederate soldiers fought on the battlefield,
leaving 23,000 dead and wounded.
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