{"id":"nps-fodo","slug":"fort-donelson-national-battlefield","name":"Fort Donelson National Battlefield","designation":"National Battlefield","category":"battlefield","categoryLabel":"Battlefield and Military Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"FODO","designation":"National Battlefield","sourceId":"nps-fodo"}],"states":["KY","TN"],"stateNames":["Kentucky","Tennessee"],"location":{"lat":36.49019078,"lon":-87.92445695},"bbox":[-88.0736,36.4653,-87.8275,36.5113],"acres":{"value":1324,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donelson elated the North, and stunned the South. Within days of the surrender, Clarksville and Nashville would fall into Union hands. Grant and his troops had created a pathway to victory for the Union.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/fodo/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=36.5113&b_tl_lng=-88.0736&b_br_lat=36.4653&b_br_lng=-87.8275","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Fort%20Donelson%20National%20Battlefield","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/fodo/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/6903ED5B-1DD8-B71B-0B29CCAFAED7A0BF.jpg","title":"Upper River Battery","alt":"The View from the Upper River Battery","caption":"A commanding view of the Cumberland River from the Upper Artillery Battery","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/695F97FC-1DD8-B71B-0B71DFE3E1403778.jpg","title":"Fort Donelson National Cemetery","alt":"Hallowed ground.","caption":"The Fort Donelson National Cemetery, final resting place for Soldiers who fell in battle during the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F26FAA11-B46E-B499-F5F9ECA3A44EA1AC.jpg","title":"Artillery at Fort Donelson NB","alt":"cannon overlooking river","caption":"Quiet Afternoon overlooking the Cumberland River, Fort Donelson NB","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F074F885-F85E-F5AD-B054CA9F7E36426F.jpg","title":"The Dover Hotel","alt":"Historic hotel","caption":"The Dover Hotel, site of the first major Civil War surrender.","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F252FD12-9D5B-E5D3-5CA209AF7388D509.jpg","title":"Fort Donelson National Cemetery","alt":"cemetery gate","caption":"Fort Donelson National Cemetery: Final resting place for thousands of American Veterans","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/692CEF3E-1DD8-B71B-0BB9E948F9F517CA.jpg","title":"Earthworks","alt":"Confederate earthworks.","caption":"A view of the earthworks, where Confederate Soldiers once stood watch.","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F0295D11-CB23-CCC4-112A9E6D9AFB91CB.jpg","title":"Volunteer Cannon Demonstration","alt":"cannon and costumed volunteers","caption":"Volunteers demonstrate Field Artillery at Fort Donelson NB","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F29EB12D-C600-3E3F-AE92888F5755A595.jpg","title":"Picnic Area","alt":"picnic tables","caption":"Enjoy your lunch at the Picnic Area, Fort Donelson NB","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/69188F2A-1DD8-B71B-0B7A322C10791DD1.jpg","title":"Field Artillery Demonstration","alt":"Cannon drills during the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Donelson","caption":"Volunteers of the 9th Kentucky Infantry Re-enactors demonstrate field artillery","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F2B12602-0AFB-AC49-CC2AE1908B53836B.jpg","title":"Spring flowers on the trails","alt":"early spring native flowers","caption":"Native plants found on park trails during springtime hikes","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/F2F22CCE-B61D-73BC-B9B1A560AA54615E.jpg","title":"Artillery Batteries at Fort Donelson NB","alt":"Cannons on Lower River Battery","caption":"Observation Deck on the Cumberland River","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/0FAC690C-E4CD-AD0B-4E0B086F2ED93D57.jpg","title":"Tennessee River:  A View from Fort Heiman","alt":"water and trees view of Tennessee River","caption":"A View from Fort Heiman, Kentucky overlooking Kentucky Lake","credit":"NPS/dwatkins","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Auto and ATV","Scenic Driving","Guided Tours","Self-Guided Tours - Auto","Hiking","Junior Ranger Program","Park Film","Museum Exhibits"],"topics":["Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite","National Cemetery","Forts","Military","Battlefields","Monuments and Memorials","Wars and Conflicts","Civil War"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Fort Donelson National Battlefield","description":"Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center is open daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST.\nDover Hotel hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST daily.\n\nThe park is closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1.  Hours change seasonally.\n\nThe park tour route is open:\nSpring time change to Memorial Day: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CDT \nMemorial Day to Labor Day: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CDT\nLabor Day to fall time change: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CST\nFall time change to spring time change: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST","standardHours":{"wednesday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","monday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","thursday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","sunday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","tuesday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","friday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","saturday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Mid-March to Memorial Day","start":"2027-03-11","end":"2027-05-29","hours":{"wednesday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM","monday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM","thursday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM","sunday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM","tuesday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM","friday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM","saturday":"8:00AM - 6:00PM"}},{"name":"Fall Time Change - Spring Time Change","start":"2026-11-02","end":"2027-03-08","hours":{"wednesday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","monday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","thursday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","sunday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","tuesday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","friday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","saturday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM"}},{"name":"Thanksgiving Day","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{"thursday":"Closed"}},{"name":"Christmas Day","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{"saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"New Year's Day","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{"saturday":"Closed"}},{"name":"Memorial Day to Labor Day","start":"2027-05-31","end":"2027-09-06","hours":{"wednesday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM","monday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM","thursday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM","sunday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM","tuesday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM","friday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM","saturday":"8:00AM - 8:00PM"}}]}],"directions":"The main entrance is at 120 Fort Donelson Park Road, in Dover Tennessee. It is advised to start a visitor experience here. Brochures and information are available at this location. Physical address for the park's Fort Heiman unit, in Calloway County, Kentucky: 654 Fort Heiman Road, New Concord, Kentucky. This site is not staffed daily, but exhibits and information are available for visitors.","weatherInfo":"Fort Donelson National Battlefield traditionally experiences mild to moderate winters and hot summers with an average high of 90 degrees in the summer and 40 in winter; average lows in the winter are 30 degrees but single digits are not unusual. Rainfall in the area averages 53 inches a year with an additional 6 inches of ice/snow. Violent thunderstorms and severe weather can take place at any time of year but are most common in December and spring time.","contacts":{"phone":"931-232-5706","email":"fodo_administration@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Fort Donelson Visitor Center","description":"The Visitor Center is at the main park entrance, just off Highway 79. Museum exhibits, a gift shop, handicapped accessible restroom, and information are available for visitors. The park audiovisual films are available at our website under the link: https://www.nps.gov/fodo/planyourvisit/things2do.htm We encourage you to begin your visit at this location. GPS: 120 Fort Donelson Park Road, Dover, TN 37058","url":"http://www.nps.gov/fodo/planyourvisit/hours.htm","lat":36.48240704749231,"lon":-87.86259097576647}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"cross-creeks-national-wildlife-refuge","km":18},{"slug":"land-between-the-lakes-national-recreation-area","km":30},{"slug":"tennessee-national-wildlife-refuge","km":62},{"slug":"clarks-river-national-wildlife-refuge","km":66},{"slug":"shawnee-national-forest","km":121},{"slug":"reelfoot-national-wildlife-refuge","km":126}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=fodo"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.612Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Fort Donelson NB Park Fall Hours","text":"Visitor Access to Fort Donelson NB Park Lands: Pedestrian Access is from sunrise to sunset. Automobile Access to Fort Donelson NB Park Roads 8:00 am – 6:00 p.m. daily.","url":null,"updated":"2026-09-07 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-92DFEDDC-9091-44BA-9C49-4240D319B8C4"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/fort-donelson-national-battlefield/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/fort-donelson-national-battlefield.geojson"}