The Fall 2021 Moccasin Bend Lecture Series begins on Monday, September 13 at 7:00 pm featuring guest speaker, Keith A. Hardison, Executive Director for the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Mr. Hardison’s talk, “Character-Driven History: Chattanooga and the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center,” will provide an overview of why Chattanooga is considered the birthplace of the National Medal of Honor, and highlight a few of the recipients from the Civil War Campaign for Chattanooga.
Our 2021 series will take place live at the IMAX Theater with an accompanying live broadcast via Zoom so that all guests have the opportunity to participate in the Q&A following the presentations. **We will follow all appropriate CDC policy and local health guidelines at the time of the event to provide a safe experience for our guests.
Register to attend IN PERSON AT THE IMAX HERE
Register for the VIRTUAL BROADCAST HERE
The Moccasin Bend Lecture Series is presented each fall with fascinating speakers and topics related to National Parks and conservation; Indigenous culture and history; and Chattanooga’s place in the U.S. Civil War. The series was founded in 2006 by Greg A. Vital and has been sustained into our 16th year through his generous sponsorship. All lectures are on Monday evenings, and are free and open to the public.
Keith A. Hardison
About Our Speaker:
With more than 36 years of experience in leading museums, historic sites, and historical agencies, Keith supervised the design and construction of the $2.5M Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and Museum and served two terms on the Mississippi Civil War Battlefields Commission in the 1990s. He supervised the design and construction of the $25M Capital Park Branch, Louisiana State Museum in 2000-2006. Keith directed all aspects of the operation of the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and Properties, a statewide system of 23 historic sites encompassing 250 structures on 3,300 acres from 2006-2018. While in North Carolina, he also co-chaired the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration and directed the design and construction of the $3M CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center.
Keith received his Bachelor of Arts in History from David Lipscomb University in Nashville and his Master of Arts in Museum Science from Texas Tech University. He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and has also lived in Memphis, Knoxville, and finally Chattanooga, his childhood favorite vacation spot. His loves include his wife of more than twenty years, Angela, and their dog. Keith enjoys whitewater rafting, Tennessee football, travel, and Doo-Wop music.