Few states match Tennessee in commemorating the past, and the state park system’s centerpiece location showcases its history in a stunning display, right in the shadow of the state capitol building. This month, in celebration of Tennessee State Parks’ 75th anniversary, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park will host the ninth-annual Tennessee History Festival, complete with costumed Confederate soldiers, antebellum Southern belles, and other living history interpreters.

The 19-acre park was built to commemorate Tennessee’s 200th anniversary in 1996, and it preserves a stunning northern view of the iconic capitol building while also serving as a virtual outdoor museum of Tennessee’s history and geography. On the southern end, a 200-foot granite map of the state displays every substantial community and body of water, and a collection of 31 fountains represents each of Tennessee’s major rivers. Along the western edge, a series of pillars documents centuries of state history, and near the northern end, a floating granite globe highlights where Tennesseeans fought during World War II and pays tribute to those who lost their lives. The eastern side features the Walk of Counties, with 95 embedded circles highlighting interesting facts about each Tennessee county. And at the very northern tip, a 95-bell carillon keeps the state’s musical heritage alive by playing several songs each hour that celebrate Tennessee’s heritage.

The Tennessee History Festival, held this year on October 19 and 20, blends education and entertainment with numerous historical displays and demonstrations. Also, to celebrate the state park system’s milestone anniversary, a traveling exhibit will be on hand, highlighting the best of the agency’s history and its invaluable impact on the people of Tennessee.