Civil War trails book is now available. Click to enlarge.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development announces the Tennessee Civil War Trails map-guides are now available, marking the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
The map-guides chart nearly 200 Civil War sites throughout the state and serve as a tool to reach and inspire users to discover Tennessee’s rich Civil War history.
Tennessee’s Civil War Trails program, part of a multi-state Civil War Trails initiative, interprets and creates driving tours of both the great campaigns and the lesser-known Civil War sites. Tennessee, second only to Virginia in Civil War sites, joins North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia in this important project.
The entire program has been identified by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the most successful and sustainable heritage tourism programs in the nation.
"We know the Civil Sesquicentennial will focus the world's attention on this pivotal time in our nation's history. We expect thousands of visitors to make their way to Tennessee to learn about the state's role in the war,” said Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and co-chair of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. “Travelers to Tennessee can pick up this very well-designed Civil War Trails map-guide and have the perfect tool to explore the state’s Civil War history.”
The department worked in partnership with the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area to develop the map-guide. The state’s Civil War Trails Program exists because of two enhancement grants totaling more than $1 million made possible through a federally-funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
More than 500,000 brochures were printed and are now available at all 14 Tennessee Welcome Centers. Visitors can request the map-guides via www.civilwartraveler.com , www.tncivilwar150.com or by calling (615) 741-2159.
Tennessee, the only entire state designated as a Civil War National Heritage area, currently has 150 newly interpreted trail markers as part of this program, with an additional 150 sites currently in the works. Each newly interpreted site encourages visitors to explore the markers along the trail at one’s own pace. In addition, Tennessee’s Civil War Trail offers many additional historical and recreational opportunities including preserved battlefields, hundreds of antique and specialty shops, taverns and restaurants, and much more.
The five-state Civil War Trails program creates a cross promotion marketing effort that places 2.5 million map-guides in the hands of travelers. The entire program identifies more than 1,000 places that tell the stories of civilians and soldiers during the Civil War in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.
The Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War from 2011 to 2015. The state’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission will commemorate this anniversary by sponsoring an annual signature event throughout the five-year observance. Among the highlights are scholarly discussions, living history events, stories of the Civil War, brief dramas and musical performances.
For more information, please visit
www.tncivilwar150.com.