Department of Parks
Perryville Battlefield To Host Civil War Trail July 16

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site will host a day of programs and living history on July 16 as part of the Central Kentucky Civil War Heritage Trail.

The event is co-sponsored by the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association (PBPA), a non-profit organization charged with preserving and interpreting Kentucky’s largest Civil War battleground.

The Perryville Battlefield Museum and Museum Shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and living history displays will be set up at various places around the park and in downtown Perryville.  A Civil War breakfast reception will be held from 9-10 a.m. at the park, and speakers will talk about various aspects of the battle and give tours of the battlefield.  Refreshments will be available for purchase.  The speakers will be:

10 a.m. -- “John Starkweather’s Brigade at Perryville" by Chris Kolakowski, Civil War Hall

11 a.m. -- “Kentucky in the Civil War” by Nicky Hughes, Civil War Hall

Noon -- Battlefield Tour of McCook's Right by Kurt Holman, Small Shelter

1 p.m. -- “Battle Command at Perryville” by Dr. Robert Cameron, Civil War Hall

2 p.m. -- “The Kentucky Campaign” by Don Rightmyer, Civil War Hall

3 p.m. -- Battlefield Tour of McCook's Left by Don Rightmyer, Small Shelter

4 p.m. -- “The Aftermath” by Stuart Sanders, Civil War Hall

All events are free and open to the public; admission is charged for the Perryville Battlefield Museum.

The award-winning Central Kentucky Heritage Trail is a weeklong event that showcases the Civil War heritage of Central Kentucky.  It will be held from July 15-23. Participating sites include Munfordville, Perryville, Tebb’s Bend, New Haven, Frankfort, Mill Springs, Camp Wildcat, Winchester, Camp Nelson, and Richmond.  Each site will offer in-depth interpretation, and visitors will have an opportunity to see Kentucky’s diverse Civil War history at one time.  For more information, see www.kycivilwar.org

Perryville will also host the reenactment of the Battle of Perryville, which will be conducted Oct. 7-8, 2006. The national event will draw thousands of people from across the country. For more information about the battle reenactment, visit: http://www.perryvillereenactment.org/

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov