Public invited for J. Percy Priest Dam Powerhouse tour on Stones River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at J. Percy Priest Dam & Reservoir is offering two free guided tours of the J. Percy Priest Hydroelectric Dam in celebration of the reservoir's 50th anniversary.  Dam tours will be held Friday, June 29, 2018 at 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.  There is a limit of 25 people per tour. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the dedication of J. Percy Priest Dam and reservoir.  On June 29, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson made a visit to Nashville, Tenn., to honor the late Congressman J. Percy Priest by dedicating his namesake project on the Stones River.  Attendance at the event numbered over 4,000. Construction of J. Percy Priest Dam began in June 1963 and was completed in December 1967.  Originally named the Stewarts Ferry Reservoir, the project was renamed in 1958 to celebrate the accomplishments of James Percy Priest.  Priest was a high school teacher, coach and reporter/editor for the Nashville Tennessean before he was elected to Congress. He represented Nashville and Davidson County from 1940 until his death in 1956. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District maintains and operates the project.