Licking History Club visits Shiloh, Corinth and Elvis Presley Birthplace

Justin Coffey, Social Studies Teacher

The Licking History Club recently traveled south for an educational trip that gave members the chance to experience history firsthand. Stops on the trip included Shiloh National Military Park, Corinth, the Corinth Contraband Camp and the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo.

At Shiloh, club members walked the battlefield and learned more about one of the best-known sites of the Civil War. The stop gave students and supporters a chance to better understand the setting and importance of the location by seeing it in person.

In Corinth, the group visited historic sites and learned more about the area’s importance during the war. The visit also included the Corinth Contraband Camp, where members reflected on the experiences of formerly enslaved people who came there seeking freedom and a new beginning.

The trip also included a stop at the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, where members toured the small home where Elvis was born, along with the museum, chapel and grounds. The visit added a unique cultural stop to the journey and gave the group a chance to see another important part of Mississippi history.

The Licking History Club would like to extend a sincere thank you to the individuals and businesses whose donations helped make a trip like this possible: Lewis and Sons, Town and Country Bank, Jason Akers Logging and Trucking, Rinne Tire Pros, Country Crossroads Custom Cabinetry, Sherry Underwood Bookkeeping Plus, Phoenix Pawn, Friend Fitness, Rinne Pharmacy, David Hicks, J.L. Friend Lumber, Hammond Feed, Greg Green, and Progressive Ozark Bank. I also want to thank Heather Ingram, Eric Dodson, Suzie Blackburn, Faith Sullins and Jamie Maxey for helping transport students to this amazing opportunity.

Support from generous community donors helps provide students and club members with opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and experience important historic places in a meaningful way.