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Special Event
Event
The Emancipation Proclamation 163rd Anniversary Programs
Fee:
Free.Dates & Times
Date:
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Time:
10:00 AM
Duration:
4 hours and 30 minutes
Type of Event
Guided Tour
Walk
Description
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
10 AM - Fighting for Freedom - Walk through Stones River National Cemetery and explore how Emancipation Proclamation opened a way for formerly enslaved men to serve in the United States Colored Troops and leave their mark on middle Tennessee and the nation. (60 minutes)
1 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. (90 minutes)
Reservation or Registration: No
Image Gallery
NPS Photo