National Park Service Site · Dover, Tennessee
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Organization Confirmed · last verified 2026-09-12 · What this means
An authorized representative of the organization has confirmed the listing, or an editor has confirmed it from a first-party source.
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donelson elated the North, and stunned the South. Within days of the surrender, Clarksville and Nashville would fall into Union hands. Grant and his troops had created a pathway to victory for the Union.
Visiting
- Designation
- National Battlefield
- Owned or managed by
- National Park Service
- Address
- 120 Fort Donelson Park Road, Dover, TN, 37058 · Map and directions
- Hours
Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center is open daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST.
Dover Hotel hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST daily.
The park is closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Hours change seasonally.
The park tour route is open:
Spring time change to Memorial Day: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CDT
Memorial Day to Labor Day: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CDT
Labor Day to fall time change: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CST
Fall time change to spring time change: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST
Wednesday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM · Monday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM · Thursday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM · Sunday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM · Tuesday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM · Friday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM · Saturday: 8:00AM - 4:30PM
- Getting there
The main entrance is at 120 Fort Donelson Park Road, in Dover Tennessee. It is advised to start a visitor experience here. Brochures and information are available at this location. Physical address for the park's Fort Heiman unit, in Calloway County, Kentucky: 654 Fort Heiman Road, New Concord, Kentucky. This site is not staffed daily, but exhibits and information are available for visitors.
- Periods interpreted
- American Civil War
- Official page
- https://www.nps.gov/fodo/index.htm (opens nps.gov in a new tab)
- Official contact
- https://www.nps.gov/fodo/index.htm/contacts.htm (opens nps.gov in a new tab)
Current alerts from the source
- Fort Donelson NB Park Fall Hours (Information) — Visitor Access to Fort Donelson NB Park Lands: Pedestrian Access is from sunrise to sunset. Automobile Access to Fort Donelson NB Park Roads 8:00 am – 6:00 p.m. daily.
- Visitor Services Temporarily Relocated to Historic Dover Hotel (Information) — Visitor Services have temporarily relocated to the historic Dover Hotel (Tour Stop #10) located at 101 Petty St., Dover, TN.
Visitor centers
- Fort Donelson Visitor Center — The Visitor Center is at the main park entrance, just off Highway 79. Museum exhibits, a gift shop, handicapped accessible restroom, and information are available for visitors. The park audiovisual fi
Programs and events
"This was war in earnest": The 11th Illinois at Fort Donelson
Dates: Sept. 13
At the height of the February 15th breakout attack, one Union regiment faced a fateful moment. If the 11th Illinois Infantry retreated, panic would ripple through the Union line. If they stood, they risked being overwhelmed. What would you do? Follow the gripping story of these soldiers as they held their ground during one of the battle’s most dramatic moments.
Recent past events (1)
- “Blow everything you know”: Civil War Bugle Calls — 2026-09-12
Send a message
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