Outlay From U.S.

Will Help Finance

Bicentennial Events

By AMY ROSE

Staff Writer

The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site has been named a recipient of $100,000 as part of the National Park Centennial Initiative.

The funds will be matched with $100,000 in local donations that will be used for events and projects related to this year's Bicentennial Celebration of President Johnson's birth.

The Andrew Johnson site is one of 110 national parks that received more than $50 million for special projects that will be funded by an equal combination of public and private funds.

The recipients were announced last week by Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, said the funding is "critical" to the success of the Bicentennial Celebration.

"This funding will allow us to expand where we go and to make sure we get these events done," she said.

The funding also will allow the year-long celebration "to show people how unique his presidency was and how his decisions affect them now and how wonderfully unique Greeneville is," she added.

The funding will be designated for several activities geared toward the four main goals of the celebration's Steering Committee, Watts said.

Those goals are:

* "To present the life of Andrew Johnson in context of his time as a springboard to discuss the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction and Civil Rights;

* "To encourage, through a formal education process, a stronger interest in local and regional history to both youth and adults concerning issues around Andrew Johnson's political career and his early years in Greeneville;

* "Build tourism in Greene County by marketing the bicentennial on a broad scale that will increase visitation and tourism dollars; and

* "Develop community pride and awareness during this celebration that will have future positive and lasting impact."

Examples of activities include educational programs in local schools, theatrical performances, informational displays and art exhibits, Watts said.

She noted that the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is one of the smallest national parks to be approved for funding through the Centennial Initiative.

The National Park Centennial Initiative was announced in 2006 for the benefit of national parks between now and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.

In addition to the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, the only other Tennessee recipient was the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which received $340,000.

The Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Celebration began on his 199th birthday, Dec. 29, 2007, and will end Dec. 29 this year with a wreath laying at Johnson's grave.

The year-long celebration includes living history demonstrations, public lectures and a variety of events for all ages.

For a complete list of events or for more information on the celebration, visit www.discovergreeneville.com.