Fort Donelson Tips?

[JeffBrooks]

The day after tomorrow, I'll be passing by Fort Donelson on my way back to Texas. The wife has graciously gifted me an hour or so to spend there. Can it be done in so short an amount of time? I will have my wife and three kids in tow, and will have to endure a 7.5 hour drive after we leave.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I was kind of disappointed by Donelson when I visited two years ago because there did not seem to be a lot to see. The water battery was the main attraction. The visitor center was being rebuilt at the time; hopefully that is done by now.

Besides the main area, the Dover House (where the fort's surrender was signed) is just a few miles away in Dover.

 

[DixieRifles]

I've visited Fort Donelson twice. At the 151st Anniversary, I took a special tour with a General Grant impersonator and I recall that took about little more than 2 hours.
If you take a map or two, such as ones that show the attack, this should give you a good understanding of the battle.
They have a nice Interpretative Center which shouldnt take too much time. You might get to see a nesting Bald Eagle . I made one short visit with my wife and we made a wuick drive through.
Part of the history is the surrender site at the hotel in nearby Dover. I believe every time I visited the Park and took the time to drive over there, it was closed. You wouldnt miss much if you skipped that.