After six amazing years here in Washington, the time has come for Michelle and I to turn the page and begin a new chapter.
We’re moving to Union City, Tennessee where I’ll be serving as president and CEO of Discovery Park of America.
Of course, it was a tough and much-prayed-about decision because I love Washington, D.C., but more importantly, I have such appreciation and respect for the talented group of folks at the Newseum who are doing such important work. I’m going to be heartily cheering on my good friends here as they continue to champion a free press and the five freedoms of the First Amendment.
In Union City, Michelle will be looking for an opportunity to utilize her gifts as an arts educator, serving children in that area.
Fun Facts about Discovery Park of America
Background
- Entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert Kirkland and his wife Jenny donated more than 100 million dollars to build and provide operating and expansion funds for Discovery Park of America in Union City (population 11,000), a rural Tennessee community located 115 miles north of Memphis and 170 miles west of Nashville.
- Opened on Nov. 1, 2013, and welcomed more than 250,000 visitors in its first year. To date, the park has had over one-million visitors.
- The interactive learning and teaching site sprawls over 50 acres and invites visitors to experience 250 million years of history in its Discovery Center and on its grounds.
- Discovery Center designed by museum architects from Boston-based Verner Johnson. Exhibits designed by Thinc Design of New York, and fabricated by New Jersey-based Maltbie. Aquarium designed and installed by Tenji of California.
At A Glance
- 120-foot-tall Observation tower features a glass-enclosed viewing deck.
- 50-acre campus includes two miles of paved trails, 12 miles of irrigation, 30 buildings, 2,000 tons of steel, and extensive landscaping with more than 24,000 plants.
- 14 log cabins, crop field, vineyard, outdoor maze and working gristmill.
Discovery Center
- 100,000-square-foot building houses nine permanent exhibit galleries: Children’s Exploration, Energy, Enlightenment, Military, Native Americans, Natural History, Regional History, Science/Space/Technology, and Transportation. An additional gallery features rotating and traveling exhibits.
- Simulation Theater features a 270-degree wraparound screen and special effects that include sounds and tremors depicting the 1811-12 earthquakes that created nearby Reelfoot Lake.
- 20,000-gallon freshwater aquarium stocked with species native to the region.
- Starship Theater with 160-degree dome screen allows visitors to launch a spaceship from Earth and navigate it through the universe.
- Galleries include replicas of Dinosaurs, authentic fossils, Native American artifacts, military equipment, vintage automobiles, and dozens of interactive exhibits and activity stations.
Outdoor Exhibits
- Water bisects Discovery Park of America from north to south, with lakes and a stream flowing through a working gristmill, under bridges and over waterfalls. Extensive landscaping features plants and flowers from around the world, including 3,000 rosebushes and 2,500 azaleas, magnificently showcased in distinctive American, European, and Japanese gardens.
- The Settlement’s log cabins depict rural life in the 1800s, and the attractions include a blacksmith shop, doctor’s office, farm buildings, homes, and a one-room schoolhouse.
- The Barn features restored farm equipment, tractors and vintage neon signs.
- A covered bridge leads to a 100-year old church. A train station features a depot, a locomotive and several rail cars.
- Freedom Square’s Main Street evokes small town life in the early 1900s, with reconstructed buildings such as a barbershop, drug store, and fire station. Liberty Hall houses reproductions of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and a full-size replica of the Liberty Bell.
- Children’s Discovery Garden- Opened in 2017, an area dedicated to getting little ones outdoors, in the fresh air, and will promote exercise in a fun and safe environment! Designed by the Discovery Park team, the Children’s Discovery Garden winds children through a delightful area in which to play and explore!
- The Titan Missile- This 110 foot missile took its place in STEM Landing in 2017 and will be easily seen from the new I-69, which will be completed in 2024.
In my new role at Discovery Park of America, I’ll be joining a team whose mission is to provide children and adults with an opportunity for exploration and discovery in a 100,000-square-foot museum and 50-acre heritage park. In addition to utilizing my skills and experience in museum management, special events and the tourism business, this will be a unique place to apply my passion for West Tennessee heritage and history.
We’re grateful for all our blessings and are very excited to see what God has in store for this next chapter.
Here is the complete press release:
Discovery Park of America Names Scott Williams President and CEO
UNION CITY, Tenn. — The board of directors of Discovery Park of America announced today the selection of Scott Williams as the organization’s new president and CEO. Williams will replace retiring president and CEO, James Rippy, who has been instrumental in the development and management of the organization since its inception. Rippy will continue in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
A West Tennessee native, Williams is currently the president and chief operating officer of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. He earned his degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and held leadership positions at several advertising agencies and other Memphis companies including Cleo, Inc., ServiceMaster, Baptist Memorial Health Care and Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
“Scott brings a significant track record of success in the entertainment, museum, attraction and tourism businesses,” said board member Chris Kirkland who led the search committee. “I’m confident that his background and experience as a trusted leader and his unique set of skills in strategic planning, operations, development and education will be extremely valuable as DPA begins the next chapter.”
Last year, under Williams’ leadership, the Newseum welcomed a record-breaking 850,000 visitors to its 250,000-square-foot museum of news and the First Amendment on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the United States Capitol. Additionally, the Newseum has been named a Top 25 Trending U.S. Attraction and a Top 25 Museum among museums in the world by TripAdvisor.
“Because of my work with museums and attractions and my love of West Tennessee history, I’ve been following Discovery Park of America since the groundbreaking,” said Williams. “Robert Kirkland’s vision combined with the dedicated work by the community in Union City has created a transformative experience like nothing else in the world. I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the team there, and I look forward to contributing to this impressive organization.”
In addition to his work at the Newseum, Williams serves as vice chair on the board of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and recently held the position of president of the board of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the American Advertising Federation. A published author, Williams is currently working on his third book, “Forgotten Stories from the History of West Tennessee.” Additionally, Williams produces a blog on West Tennessee history and culture at HaywoodCountyLine.com.
Williams and his wife, Michelle, who is an elementary school art teacher, have two daughters, Alex, a junior at the University of Memphis and Olivia, a freshman at James Madison University.
About Discovery Park of America
The mission of Discovery Park of America, a premier world-class museum and attraction located in Union City, Tennessee, is to enhance the educational experience of children and adults and to inspire them to see beyond their current level of knowledge. Included is a 100,000-square-foot museum featuring 10 interactive exhibit galleries with additional space for temporary exhibits from around the world and a 50-acre heritage park. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations including its principal funder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. For more information, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.