Celebrating ‘The Fourth’

Museum of Appalachia’s anvil shoot tradition carries on

  • Attendees at the 2 p.m. anvil shoot waiting patiently moments before the fuse was lit. William Bear Stevenson was the guest lighter for the 2 p.m. shoot. The museum placed large red X’s every six feet to encourage social distancing and give attendees a reference for how far apart they should stand.

  • The procession of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Tennesseans for Living History, carrying flags.

  • The second after the gunpowder ignited, see the anvil flying in the center of the photo.

  • A group of children raises the liberty pole before the ringing of the bell.

  • Attendees saw a log the old-fashioned way while a volunteer from the Boy Scouts of America holds down the log.