Shiloh National Military Park

Cannons and a monument at Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee.

Last Friday, Laura and I went to one of our favorite places, Shiloh National Military Park. We enjoy walking through the Civil War battlefields, seeing all of the monuments, and imagining what it was like when the war was going on. We also enjoy seeing the Indian mounds that are there, too. But mainly, we just enjoy being outdoors and spending time together.

On this particular day, the weather was just about perfect. Sunny with a few clouds, not too warm, not too cool. Early enough that mosquitoes and poison ivy weren’t a problem. Just a perfect day.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect 151 years ago when the war was going on, and we in no way are trying to glorify war by being there. Instead, it is a reminder of the struggles that our nation has endured to be where we are today. And it is interesting to see where part of our nation’s history took place.

I often think that history is one of those things that make much more sense the older you get. And you have a better appreciation of history as you get older, too. On my first few visits to Shiloh over half of my life ago, I really didn’t appreciate what it was all about. And that can be said for so many other historical places I visited back then, too.

Perhaps history becomes more important to you the more you start to contemplate your own place in history, however small it may be.

About the Photo

A single RAW exposure, processed in Adobe Lightroom. Read more about the photo software and gear I use at the camera gear page.
Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm