MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Stones River National Battlefield is getting ready to celebrate a milestone. Executive Director Lindsey Jennings told WGNS, the battlefield will officially turn 100 years old this coming March—a century since President Calvin Coolidge signed the legislation that created what was then known as Stones River National Military Park.
The origins of the park stretch back to March 3, 1927, when two Civil War veterans and an Army engineer were asked to define its boundaries. Their choices were deliberate: land surrounding the Hazen Brigade Monument, the Stones River National Cemetery, and the stretch of the old Nashville Pike where some of the most intense fighting of the Battle of Stones River took place. What many visitors don’t realize is that much of this land was once home to an African American community known as Cemetery, whose residents were descendants of people freed after the 13th Amendment. Over several years, the federal government purchased these parcels, and in 1932 the park was formally dedicated.
Over the past hundred years, our understanding of the battle—and the Civil War itself—has deepened. In recent decades, major preservation efforts have more than doubled the battlefield’s protected acreage, thanks in part to the American Battlefield Trust. Historic landscapes have been restored, key structures stabilized, and the national cemetery carefully tended.
The coming year will be filled with reflection and celebration. On Saturday, March 20, 2027, the Friends organization will host a centennial symposium featuring leading historians and individuals who have shaped the park’s interpretation and preservation. A full schedule of centennial events will be released in the months ahead.
The Friends group also welcomed new leadership on July 1, 2026. Susan Myers‑Shirk now serves as president, with Peggy Nelson as secretary, Gia Trevino as treasurer, and Tom Zei as past president. Board members include Gib Backlund, Karen Bingham, Gary Burke, Phila Chandler, Trudy Hulett, and Chase Sinquefield.
Right now, the ADOPT A TREE program is underway at the Stones River National Cemetery. More than one hundred new trees are being planted, and supporters can symbolically adopt one for $250 or more. Donors will receive a certificate with GPS coordinates of their tree, recognition on the Friends website, and an invitation to a special Tree Planting Day this fall. It’s a meaningful way to honor loved ones while helping preserve the battlefield’s most sacred spaces.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the battlefield as it approaches its centennial. The park and visitor center are at 3501 Old Nashville Highway. It is Murfreesboro's top tourist attraction, and the facility is open daily until 5:00 PM. For more information, call (615) 893‑9501 or visit the National Park Service website at nps.gov/stri.
