NEWS RELEASE
PERRYVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 16, 2016) – Guided walking tours will be offered at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site as the park prepares for the national Civil War re-enactment Oct. 8-9.
The tours are free with museum admission of $4 per person. The tours, which start at 10 a.m., will offer guests a glimpse of the history of the battlefield as well as what to expect for the battle re-enactment.
Park Manager Kurt Holman will guide the tours. Holman, who has served as park manager since 1989, has spent his career gathering information about the battle and the soldiers who participated. He has compiled a database of 5,824 names of the approximately 7,600 casualties of the Battle of Perryville. In 2010, Holman received the Carrington Williams Battlefield Preservationist of the Year Award from the Civil War Trust.
The tours of the museum and battlefield will be given on the following dates: Aug. 23, 25, 30; Sept. 1, 6, 8, 13, 17, 20, 22, and 27.
Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site sits on 750 acres of land and the Civil War Trust owns 310 acres of adjacent land. More than 1,063 acres are now open to the public, including 20 miles of interpretive trails and more than 50 interpretive signs.
The Kentucky Department of Parks is offering advance discounted tickets to the annual commemoration of the Battle of Perryville Oct. 8-9. Advance sales will be available online through Oct. 5. Visit www.parks.ky.gov to order tickets and for more information about the re-enactment weekend.
The Battle of Perryville was the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky. More than 7,600 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Each year, Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site commemorates the battle with re-enactments, living history programs, battlefield tours, authors and book signings, period entertainment, and vendors.
(Kentucky State Parks Image: Kurt Holman)