On November 12, 2025, Oak Ridge will unveil a new Civil War Trails Marker at Cedar Hill Park. The marker will honor Elijah Wood. The event is organized by Explore Oak Ridge and Atomic Hope Heritage Preservation & Tourism Company. This marks Oak Ridge’s addition to the Civil War Trails network, which links over 1,400 historic sites in six states.
Elijah Wood was born into slavery in Robertsville, now Oak Ridge. In August 1864, he joined the Union Army. He served in the First United States Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment. This regiment helped defend locations in Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina, and supported General George Stoneman’s 1865 Raid. After the war, Wood returned and established Wood Chapel and School. These institutions provided education and support to formerly enslaved African Americans during Reconstruction…