The Emancipation Proclamation 163rd Anniversary Programs
This event has already occurred. This page is provided for reference only.
Special Event
The timing of the Battle of Stones River was driven by President Abraham Lincoln's desire to secure success on the battlefield on or about January 1, 1863, to support the Emancipation Proclamation. This battle proved to be the victory Lincoln wanted.
Spend the day exploring the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation on the war, its outcomes, and one our society today. Programs will begin at the visitor center.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
11 AM - Fulfilling A Promise of Liberty - The fighting at Stones River was driven by President Abraham Lincoln's need for military success to support the Emancipation Proclamation. That document, bolstered by the bloody U.S. victory in Murfreesboro signaled a change that shaped our Civil War into a conflict buildingon the promises made through the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Join a ranger and explore the connections between the ideals expressed at our nation's founding and the expansion of liberty and civil rights made possible by the struggle that gripped our country more than 80 years later. (30 minutes)
This is the debut of a special #America250 program that we will share with the public throughout the year.
2 PM - Rising From the Ashes - Join a ranger for a special caravan tour through the heart of the battlefield where formerly enslaved people created a community named Cemetery following the Civil War. (60 minutes)
Fees
This event is free to attend.
Location
Latitude and Longitude 35.880538, -86.434795
Schedule
Date:
Jan 1, 2026
Time:
10:00 AM
Duration:
4 hours and 30 minutes
Contact Information
Supervisory Park Ranger
615-893-9501
Contact Us
Event Type
- Guided Tour
- Walk
Tags:
american civil war, emancipation proclamation, united states colored troops, reconstruction era, freedman settlements, battle of stones river