Hardin County: Shiloh, Savannah and the Tennessee River

Shiloh Battlefield is on the western bank of the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tennessee. For trip planning, the county offers several areas of focus: Civil War sites, archaeological history, Savannah’s city history, and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hardin County, you can first consider which topics you’d like to shape your stay.

Shiloh: History and self-guided trails

Shiloh National Military Park preserves battlefields, historic sites, and other resources associated with Shiloh and Corinth during the western Civil War campaign. At Shiloh Battlefield, a 12.7-mile self-guided driving tour has 22 stops. The Shiloh Indian Mounds Trail follows a different route: the loop is 1.3 miles long and has 13 wayside information panels and seven stops. This lets you choose between a driving tour with stops and a walking loop with information panels.

Shiloh Indian Mounds is designated as an ancient Indian village and classified as a National Historic Landmark. The Shiloh National Cemetery is the burial place of 3,892 soldiers and sailors. Of these burials, 3,584 date from the Battle of Shiloh and other Civil War actions along the Tennessee River. An easy walk through the cemetery leads to a hilltop overlooking the Tennessee River and Pittsburg Landing, bringing a memorial and a scenic view together in one place.

The Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center displays artifacts from the battlefield. The film “Shiloh: Fiery Trial” is also shown there every hour between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you’d like to plan around the screening, check the times before your visit. The battlefield’s wooded landscape provides habitat for more than 200 bird species that can be observed, adding a nature component to its historic themes.

Museum and city history in Savannah

The Tennessee River Museum explores the history of the Tennessee River in Hardin County through seven permanent exhibits, each covering a different era. The museum is located in a former post office built in 1939 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exhibits also include more than 200 fossil specimens dating back millions of years. Here, you’ll find both regional river history and evidence from geological eras long past.

Savannah’s Historic District offers a self-guided tour of 42 distinctive downtown buildings. The Savannah Market hosts the Savannah Farmers Market every Wednesday and on the second Saturday of each month. The market is equipped with a large pavilion and public restrooms. Since the market days are important for planning, check the schedule before your trip.

Tennessee River and outdoor activities

The Pickwick Reservoir covers 43,100 acres in total; the part located in Tennessee is in Hardin County. Pickwick Landing State Park covers more than 1,500 acres. Recreational activities there include hiking trails, swimming beaches, campsites, a golf course, kayaks, canoes, and a playground. Individual facilities may change, so check which activities are available before your visit.

Fit as a Fiddle is a self-guided hiking program in Hardin County featuring 13 selected trails. Participants are expected to hike at least five of them. The program focuses on completing several hikes, while the information about the reservoir and Pickwick Landing State Park describes different outdoor and recreational opportunities. Together with the wooded habitats at Shiloh Battlefield, these topics offer several ways to plan a stay without limiting your interests to a single activity.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Pickwick, Counce, Crump, Marshall County, Scott County, Hardeman County, Lawrence County, Mcminn County.

For the main travel overview: Tennessee.