In the early 1980’s the Sons of Confederate Veterans established the Battle of Parker’s Crossroads Camp and The United Daughters of the Confederacy established a UDC Chapter at Parker’s Crossroads. There was a strong desire by members of these organizations, as well as non-member,s to preserve the Parkers Crossroads Battlefield. In 1993 a 501-C3 non-profit organization was formed as the Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Association. This was done without the acquisition of any land. Local land owners agreed to allow pull-offs with signs to be placed on their property. Originally there were eight stops on the tour. A brochure was developed and in 1999 an audio cassette was written and recorded to give the visitor a more informative driving tour.
In 1994 the Tennessee Division of Archeology, with the assistance of volunteers from the PCBA, conducted a dig at what has been established as the Union Burial Site. Three separate excavations were conducted to confirm the Union burial site. The new organization first established and dedicated the Battle of Parkers Crossroads Self-Guided Driving Tour in 1994.
In 2001, through a grant provided by the Tennessee Wars Commission, the battlefield was designated on the National Register of Historic Places and the first 56 acres of core battlefield was purchased and title granted to the State of Tennessee. The City of Parker’s Crossroads contracted with the Tennessee Historical Commission to maintain and operate the site. Subsequent acquisitions have brought the total of core battlefield land preserved to approximately 350 acres. The acquisitions have been funded through a variety of sources. The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission, CWT, TDOT enhancement grants, the American Battlefield Protection Program, the Land Trust for Tennessee, the State Lands Acquisition Fund, and the PCBA.
A series of walking trails and signs have been added to the north and south battlefield park. Funding was acquired from the use of enhancement funds from the TDOT and the donation of money and time from members of the PCBA. The PCBA members have contributed numerous hours of labor as well as funds to this project and other projects.
Members of the PCBA relocated an 1851 log cabin to the site that is now used for living history programs and other events on the park. The PCBA conducts living history programs throughout the year to promote the history of the Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield. The most recent accomplishment by the PCBA was the revision of the audio driving tour in partnership with a grant from the Tennessee National Civil War Heritage Area. The tour is available on CD.
The PCBA, continuing in their efforts to preserve the battlefield, have seen many preservation victories. The victories now total just over 349 acres of preserved land!
March 2001 ~ 56.08 acres
January 2002 ~ 24 acres
March 2003 ~ 77 acres
November 2004 ~ 9 acres
November 2005 ~ 40 acres
December 2007 ~ 87.96 acres
June 2009 ~ 4.5 acres
October 2011 ~ 50.78 acres
December 2011 ~ .4 acres
349.72 acres total
Interested in more? To see a listing for many of the Civil War sites in West Tennessee, click here!
Parker’s Crossroads from David Currey on Vimeo.