The Chamber is Set to Open at 

Discovery Park of America on February 13th 

CONTACT:  Mary Nita Bondurant mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.com  731-885-5455

 UNION CITY, TN- Discovery Park of America hopes to shed light on a dark past with the opening of a new exhibit called The Chamber.  On Friday, February 13th The Chamber will be open to the public.  The Chamber is a unique exhibit featuring items used in executions and torture dated back to the 1400's during the Spanish Inquisition period.  The new exhibit is located in The Enlightenment Gallery and will be available for viewing during normal park hours of 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.   Discovery Park visitors who attend the Valentine's Wine Tasting event on the evening of February 12th will be the first to see the new exhibit.

     The History Channel was the catalyst for the new exhibit according to CEO Jim Rippy.  "Last year we received a call from the History Channel about a new series called Museum Men," Rippy said.  "The History Channel offered to give us three items from the Spanish Inquisition period and an army tank if we would allow them to film two of the :30 minute shows at Discovery Park."  The show featuring the items of torture aired on History Channel 2 on January 10th and is still available on their website.  It is also available on Discovery Park's website under Current News.  The theme of the show revolved around a museum fabricator company called Creative Arts building the three items and delivering them to Discovery Park.  From there, Museum Curator and historian Jennifer Wildes planned an exhibit featuring the three items as well as others that served a similar purpose.  Thus, the concept of The Chamber was born and the Discovery Park team worked with general contractor Allen Searcy to create a unique space for the items.

     From the stone walls to eerie sounds and barred windows, there is a creepy feeling inside The Chamber.  "We believe that each generation can learn from the mistakes of earlier generations," Wildes said.  "This exhibit is unique and educational, which makes it right at home in a place called Discovery Park."

     The three items from the Spanish Inquisition time period and acquired by the park from Creative Arts and featured on the History Channel show are:

     The Breaking Wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or just simply 'the wheel,' represents a form of execution which meant to torture the victim before death was achieved.  Victims were tied to a large cart wheel with their arms and legs stretched out.  The executioner then used a metal hammer to beat the victims' limbs until broken before delivering the final death blow.  The wheel was often mounted on a tall pole for public viewing after the execution.

     The Rack was a torture method that wasnot used as punishment, but rather as a means to bring about a confession from the victim.  During the Spanish Inquisition, inquisitors hoped to acquire a confession of heresy (religious belief that opposed Spain's accepted religion of Catholicism) from their victim.  The victim would lie down upon the rack with bound wrists and ankles.  The limbs were gradually stretched away from the body, resulting in excruciating pain.

     The Brazen Bull was invented in ancient Greece during the 6th century BC by the blacksmith Perilaus of Athens for the tyrant Phalaris of Agrigentum.   When completed, Phalaris condemned Perilaus to be the first victim to experience this punishment.  This form of torture reemerged during the Spanish Inquisition's Reign of Terror.  The victim was sealed inside a hollow, metal statue of a bull.  A fire was then lit underneath, and the victim was roasted alive. 

     In addition to these three items, guests who visit The Chamber will see a guillotine from the French Revolution period.  The guillotine was used from 1792 until as recently as 1977 as the State's preferred method of execution.  There are other more contemporary items of torture and execution in the exhibit as well.

     The opening of the new exhibit called The Chamber comes only two weeks after the opening of Discovery Park's first major traveling exhibit:  Titanic, the Artifact Exhibition.  Both the Titanic and The Chamber will be open to the public during Discovery Park of America's regular hours:  Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  After gaining admission into the park, a visit to The Chamber is free.  The cost of visiting the Titanic Exhibition is $7.00 for a non-member; $6.00 for Discovery Park members, anyone 65+ and groups of 20 or more,  and $5.00 for school groups and children ages four through 12.  Anyone three and under can go through the Exhibition with a paying adult, free of charge.   

     In addition to all the many historical and unique exhibits and educational and entertaining attractions, Discovery Park of America offers monthly wine and paint classes, clay classes and animal education classes.  Park officials say that Discovery Park has plans for helicopter rides, singer-songwriter events, the second annual cardboard boat regatta, visits from PBS characters, a Car & Bike show, concerts, a BBQ cook-off, a chili cook-off, an air show, a beer fest, wine tasting events, a special Alvin York exhibit, a Polar Express event, Santa and an expanded Christmas exhibit in 2015.  The complete calendar is now available on the website.

     Discovery Park is located at 830 Everett Blvd. in Union City, TN.  To find out more about the new exhibit, The Chamber, the Titanic or the park, you can visit the website at www.discoveryparkofamerica.com .  The park is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and is a unique blend of history, science, architecture, art and fun.  

Rotary Benefit Golf Scramble

Friday, May 8th, 1:00 pm 

at 

Fulton Country Club.  

Limited to first 36 paid teams!

$300 per 4 person team (includes cart, green fee, entry fee, lunch, and mulligans)

Lunch will be served from 11:30 - 12:45

$10,000 prize for hole-in-one and other on course prizes. 

Each member of the winning team will receive a new putter valued at over $150 each.

Contact 270-472-2800 to enter a team, be a hole sponsor, or donate a door prize.

All proceeds go directly to the Fulton Rotary Club scholarship fund.