News & Events at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Historic Park

News & Events at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Historic Park

We hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Holiday. We sure did and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for here at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, including our supportive community and the beautiful history we present.  We’ve also started decorating for the season and we’re busy as elves putting together preparations for our upcoming programs. If you’ve got holiday visitors and would like to try something new, bring them out to the park. We’ve got interesting foodways programs on the calendar, as well as a Christmas program we think you’d really enjoy. Visit us on Facebook and tnstateparks.com for more information.

Tuesdays @ 4pm: Five Buck Fiddlers

On Tuesdays the Five Buck Fiddlers meet for a fun group lesson. So far, in less than 6 months, we’ve worked on Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Bile Them Cabbage Down, and Ida Red. Beginners are welcome at any time. All you need is a fiddle and about twenty minutes a day. If you’ve never played an instrument in your life, or you’re nervous about just jumping in, call the park and we’ll arrange for a “catch up” lesson or two to get you ready to join the group. Cost is $5 per lesson.

Friday, November 30th @ 10am: Appalachian Test Kitchen- Leather Britches

On select Fridays we’ve scheduled cooking programs to present traditional dishes cooked over an open hearth. If you’re looking for something interesting to do on a Friday or you’d just like to eat some traditional fare, join us! If you’d like to help or observe the cooking, come at 10am when we start the fire. If you’d just like to have lunch, join us at noon. Advance registration helps us make sure we cook enough to feed everyone, so please register online at tnstateparks.com or by contacting the park.

Friday, November 30th 3-7pm

Saturday, December 1st 9am-3pm: Crafts at the Christmas Marketplace

We’ll be making Christmas crafts at the annual Christmas Marketplace at the Pickett County Library. Join us for gilded walnuts & more. Hope to see you there!

Friday, December 8th @  11am: Curing Bacon

Learn how to cure bacon! Whether you’re a prepper, a survivalist, a foodie, or just enjoy learning new things, curing bacon is a great traditional skill and bacon makes a great holiday gift! For $20 you’ll get a hands-on learning experience and take home a pound of bacon you’ve cured yourself. To observe only, the workshop cost is $5. Pre-registration is required.

Saturday, December 15th: A Forgotten Christmas

Throughout the day, we’ll have holiday-themed living history programs in the log cabins, including traditional refreshments. We’ll even go out with a traditional BANG with a black-powder rifle demonstration. We’ll also be serving a traditional Appalachian holiday meal cooked over an open hearth at 11am and again at 12pm. And from 1-3pm, we’ll enjoy a live band playing traditional Upper Cumberland fiddle music as we learn traditional dances. Traditional 1860s dress is encouraged throughout the festivities.

Programming in the cabins is open to the public free of charge. The holiday meal and dance require an advance registration and a nominal fee. The holiday meal is $15 and includes free admission to the dance. The dance and music alone is $2 per person.