Beale Street Landing Groundbreaking Ceremony

Photos from the July 30, 2008 - Beale Street Landing Groundbreaking Ceremony - Memphis, TN. For more information about the project, please visit the Riverfront Development Corporation's website.




Dr. Benjamin Hooks & Mayor Willie Herenton


Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen Ware & Mayor Willie Herenton


Memphis Queen III


Riverfront Development Corporation Chairman Greg Duckett


Mayor Willie Herenton


Councilwoman Barbara Swearengen Ware


Dr. Benjamin Hooks


City Council Members Janis Fullilove & Scott McCormick


The Choir


Mayor Herenton Signals the beginning of the Groundbreaking.


Breaking Ground


John Stokes, City Councilman Scott McCormick, John Sheahan and Memphis Queen Captain


John Stokes & City Councilman Scott McCormick


RDC President Benny Lendermon, Mayor Willie Herenton & John Stokes

Photos © Amie Vanderford

Henning, TN

If you’re up in Lauderdale County for Ripley tomatoes or to visit the Ft. Pillow State Historic Park, you should also stop in Henning for a look at “Roots” author Alex Haley’s Boyhood Home & Museum and the new Interpretive Center they’re building. There is a ‘secret cache’ hidden outside of his home, too, so if you have your GPS handy, be sure to find the cache, get the ‘secret code’ symbol on the card inside the cache cover to participate in the National Great River Road 70th Anniversary Geocaching Event.







Have lunch at one of the local restaurants while you’re there, but be sure to bring cash, because credit cards are not accepted most places, nor is there an ATM machine handy.








If you wonder why you see a Chicago Cubs’ logo on the wall (I did), it’s because former Major League Baseball player Jim Hickman was born in Henning, and he played for the Cubs at one point.







Photos © Amie Vanderford

Discovery Park of America

On Tuesday, July 1, 2008 ground was broken for the project Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee.





Discovery Park of America will be a 50-acre, $100,000,000 project conceived to be a tourist magnet and historical preservation facility that will attract visitors from all areas of North America. The park will consist of a world-class museum, outside displays and gardens, a first-class tourism center and a convention and conference center.





Robert and Jenny Kirkland

Funded by the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation, Discovery Park of America will be a celebration of life, emphasizing the culture, spirit and accomplishments of the human race. It will improve our understanding of other forms of life - past, present and future. The park will be dedicated to the history of progress, art, nature and mankind. It will be a combined tourism and learning center for children and adults alike. It will benefit people from both this region and the entire country. Discovery Park of America will teach, welcome, and entertain all visitors as well as spotlight this region to the rest of the world (Source: The Discovery Park of America website).





B. Lee Mallory



It was a festive event with many people from the community in attendance to show their support. Robert and Jenny Kirkland, along with their family, were in attendance and made some remarks along with architect and designer of the museum, Douglas Cardinal; Jim Rippy, Jr., President/Chairman of Discovery Park Board of Directors; and Susan Whitaker, Commissioner Department of Tourism, State of Tennessee.



Marty Mabry and Susan Whitaker



We at the MRC-T are excited about the potential of this new asset to West Tennessee. "Serving as the major northern gateway into the Mississippi River Corridor in Tennessee, the Discovery Park of America is a triumph in vision and a remarkable cultural asset for the region. It will attract thousands of new visitor footprints with huge economic benefits for our citizens. We applaud the efforts of Jenny and Robert Kirkland, Jim Rippy and the hundreds of volunteers who have made this dream a reality in northwest Tennessee," says Diana Threadgill, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Corridor - TN.



Robert Kirkland and Diana Threadgill



John Sheahan and Pamela Marshall



Robert Kirkland and Guests

The Museum and complex are expected to open in 2010!

Photography © Amie Vanderford