TOMPKINSVILLE, Ky. – A remembrance of the Civil War era in southeastern Kentucky and a modern geocaching competition will be held at Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site on two weekends in late April and early May.
On April 25-26, the Monroe County Heritage Festival will salute the Bicentennial Celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday by focusing on the Civil War era. The activities will begin on Friday April 25 with a Blue & Gray Banquet. Monroe County native and author Dr. Lynwood Montell will be the keynote speaker. On Saturday April 26 the park will host Interactive living history presentations on "Spinning and Weaving," "One Room Schools," "Quilts and Quilting" and other topics.
A Civil War Show-and-Tell will allow participants the opportunity to share their Civil War artifacts. A variety of children's games will be offered. A potluck "dinner on the ground" will be the fare for the day. Drinks and ham will be furnished. An original play, "A Civil War Love Story", based on the letters of John Hunt Morgan and Mattie Ready Morgan, will be the highlight of the festival. Attendees are encouraged to come in period accurate clothing.
On Saturday May 3, Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site will partner with Joe Harrison Carter Elementary School to host a "trail of caches" in Tompkinsville, Ky. The event will serve as a fundraiser for the school's student reward program. Since Old Mulkey doesn't have developed trails, this geocaching event will take participants to unique sites between the school and park. Students will create the majority of the caches and when possible help to hide them. On-site registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. CT at Old Mulkey. There will be several first-to-find caches, as well as a prize for the most caches found. Organizers guarantee at least 30 caches to find. Registration is $10.00 per geocacher the day of the event or $5.00 in advance. To register contact Sheila Rush at 270-487-8481 or sheila.rush@ky.gov.
Old Mulkey State Historic Site features the oldest log meetinghouse in Kentucky, built in 1804 during a period of religious revival. Many Revolutionary War soldiers and pioneers, including Daniel Boone’s sister, Hannah, are buried here. The structure has twelve corners in the shape of a cross and three doors, symbolic of the Holy Trinity. The site is about 25 miles south of the Edmonton Exit on the Cumberland Parkway. Take KY 163 from Edmonton to Tompkinsville. Take the Old Mulkey Road or KY 1446 about two miles past Tompkinsville to the site. From I-65, take the Cumberland Parkway to Glasgow, follow KY 90 from Glasgow, and turn south onto KY 163 to Tompkinsville.
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.