Shiloh National Military Park — Visitor Guide

About a 30-minute drive west of Selmer, Shiloh preserves the battlefield of April 6–7, 1862 — one of the Civil War's largest and most consequential battles, and one of the best-kept military parks in America.

What to see

• Visitor Center — start here: exhibits, the award-winning film, and ranger orientation for the driving tour.
• The driving tour — a self-guided loop of the battlefield's key stops; allow 2–3 hours, more if you walk the stops.
• The Hornet's Nest & Sunken Road — where Union troops held for hours against repeated attacks.
• The Peach Orchard — beautiful in spring bloom, and the scene of fierce fighting on the first day.
• Bloody Pond — a quiet stop with a heavy story.
• Shiloh Church — the little log church that gave the battle its name ("Shiloh" means place of peace).
• Shiloh National Cemetery — a moving final stop overlooking Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River.

Good to know

• The battlefield is mostly a driving tour — comfortable shoes for the stops, water in summer.
• Cell signal can be patchy in the park; download the park map before you go.
• Combine it with Pickwick: the park's east edge meets the Tennessee River near Pickwick Landing.