One of America's great battlefields sits right next door to McNairy County. Here is how to visit it well — and where to eat, stay, and keep exploring when you come off the field.
On April 6–7, 1862, the fields and woods above Pittsburg Landing became the site of the Battle of Shiloh — one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, with nearly 24,000 men killed, wounded, or missing in two days. The scale of it shocked a nation that still believed the war would be short.
Established in 1894, Shiloh National Military Park is one of the oldest and best-preserved battlefields in the country. The grounds include the park's visitor center and bookstore, a driving tour past monuments and battle positions, Shiloh National Cemetery, and the prehistoric Shiloh Indian Mounds along the Tennessee River bluff.
Plan it: the battlefield is in Shiloh, Tennessee, just east of the McNairy County line. For current hours, fees, and ranger programs, check the park's official site at nps.gov/shil.
Most visitors give the battlefield a morning or an afternoon. The smart ones give the rest of the day to the country around it — and that's where McNairy County comes in, starting just minutes west of the park on Highway 22.
Home cooking, BBQ and coffee in Michie, Adamsville and Selmer — all a short drive from the park gates. And yes, this is slugburger country.
Try a SlugburgerThe Old Monterey Trail is a self-guided Civil War driving tour through McNairy County's back roads near Michie — follow the signs at your own pace.
County HistoryPair the battlefield with the Buford Pusser Home & Museum in Adamsville and downtown Selmer — three eras of history in one day.
The Pusser StoryMcNairy County and the neighboring Pickwick Lake area put you within an easy drive of the park: motels and inns in Selmer and Adamsville, bed & breakfasts, cabins, and lakeside lodging and campgrounds at Pickwick. Browse the full list on our Where to Stay section — or make it a weekend and add a lake day to your battlefield trip.
Coming through on Highway 22? The town of Michie is the closest Tennessee community to the park — a good first or last stop for gas, a meal, and small-town Tennessee at its most genuine.
More to explore: About McNairy County · Buford Pusser & Walking Tall · Travel Guide & Itineraries · Events Calendar