(NPS Photo)

School group at Shiloh Battlefield

Dear Educator:

Thank you for your interest in Shiloh National Military Park. This teacher's packet is designed to assist you in planning your trip to the battlefield. You may choose to visit the park on your own before bringing your students, so that you will be comfortable with the area. Please remember a National Park is considered sacred ground. It is important that students maintain good behavior appropriate for such solemn soil.

In order for the park to waive entrance fees for your school group, you must submit a list of learning objectives that are written on school letterhead as well as the fee waiver application, which is found on the front page of this website. The list of learning objectives and fee waiver application should arrive at the park four weeks in advance to your trip. Click here to go to the Fee Waiver page.

There are primarily four physical areas that will be of interest to you:

SHILOH BATTLEFIELD VISITOR CENTER: All visits to Shiloh should begin at the Visitor Center. This handicap accessible facility includes exhibits, a movie theatre, and restrooms. A 25-minute movie is shown on the hour and half-hour. It includes an explanation of the Battle of Shiloh.

SHILOH BATTLEFIELD TOUR: A nine and one-half mile auto tour route takes you through the battlefield. There are 14 stops along the route. The park will provide you with a map of the battlefield and brief commentary for each stop. The entire route, except for tour stop #1, is accessible to school buses. To reach tour stop #1 you are invited to walk 400-yards through the peaceful National Cemetery to the historic Pittsburg Landing.

CORINTH CIVIL WAR INTERPRETIVE CENTER: Visits to the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center will include a self-guided tour of the facility, two films that show continuously, and many hands-on exhibits. A flowing water feature interprets one-hundred years of American history.

BOOKSTORES: Both Shiloh and Corinth bookstores have a large selection of books, videos, and other educational materials. These materials might assist in your teaching as well as serve as souvenirs for your students. The Shiloh bookstore is located across the parking area from the Visitor Center. The Corinth Bookstore is located inside the Interpretive Center. Both are under the management of Eastern National and may be contacted by telephone at 731-689-3475 (Shiloh) or 662-284-4556 (Corinth).

Activities in the Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center and on the battlefield tour are designed for you to conduct on your own. You will probably spend about 45 minutes inside the Visitor Center, and the battlefield tour will probably take about one hour and thirty minutes. Please coordinate with the bookstore staff on the proper number of students allowed at a time in the bookstore. The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center will take approximately two hours to tour.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS: The park can provide a ranger-led program if staffing levels permit. These programs can take many forms, including tours of the park, hiking programs, hands-on demonstrations, and other activities. Contact Ranger Charlie Spearman for more information.

VIDEO LOANS: The park loans out copies of Civil War related videos for educational use. If you would like to use one of these videos (one at a time), you must contact the park and fill out the necessary paperwork. Examples of videos that are available include:

Shiloh: Portrait of a Battle
Battle of Shiloh (Greystone Production)
Battle of Shiloh  (Classic Images)
The Civil War Soldier: The Infantryman
Civil War Artillery

When planning your visit, please keep in mind:

• Park Rangers have set times for availability, therefore if your school has a scheduled walk, talk, or demonstration please make every attempt to arrive within thirty minutes of your scheduled time of arrival.

• The Shiloh National Cemetery is an honored resting-place for our Nation's veterans. Please remind your students to walk and use quite voices while visiting the cemetery.

• The monuments, cannons, fences, and tablets on the battlefield help to tell the story of the Battle of Shiloh. Students should stand beside these features for pictures instead of climbing on them.

• Students are welcome to use photography inside the visitor centers; however, we ask they do not use a flash inside the building.

• The Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center auditorium will seat 120 people. If your group has more than the auditorium's capacity your group will need to be divided to view the Shiloh orientation film.

• All picnics must take place at the park picnic area, which is located on the west side of Highway 22 one-mile south of the Shiloh park entrance. Please remind your students to put all trash in the trash bins.

• In case of bad weather, there is limited indoor space in park facilities.

Thank you for your interest in Shiloh National Military Park. If you would like to make a reservation for your school group or gain more information please contact Ranger Charlie Spearman at (731) 689-5696. We look forward to your visit to Shiloh National Military Park.

Sincerely,

Charlie Spearman

Contact Info:

Charlie Spearman
Park Ranger
Shiloh National Military Park
1055 Pittsburg Landing Road
Shiloh, TN 38376

Phone: (731) 689-5275
Fax: (731) 689-5450

Contact Ranger Spearman