Civil War Trust Provides History Lovers with "Essential To-Do List" for 150th Anniversary

(Washington, D.C.) – Whether it’s standing atop Chattanooga’s Lookout Mountain or inside Antietam’s Dunker Church, or viewing the remains of the ironclad USS Monitor or the Confederate submarine HL Hunley, some experiences have the power to bring history alive like nothing else can.  Believing there is no substitute for experiencing the places and situations that made history, the Civil War Trust, the nation’s largest battlefield preservation organization, is marking the sesquicentennial anniversary of the American Civil War with the release of an exciting new book designed to bring the past alive for students of history in dynamic new ways. 

The Civil War 150: An Essential To-Do List for the 150th Anniversary features top suggestions for the tours, museums, books, movies and other activities that every true Civil War aficionado should seek out during the four-year sesquicentennial commemoration.  Featured sites span the nation from Boston Common to metro Los Angeles, while some activities can be done anywhere with the assistance of a computer or television. 

“The Civil War is such a dynamic part of American history that it was nearly impossible to distill its substance to only 150 experiences,” said Trust president James Lighthizer.  “Certainly there are hundreds of additional sites and activities that we could have included.  But we are confident that once you begin using this guide in to experience history in a whole new way, physically walking in the footsteps of heroes — be they famous generals or common soldiers and civilians — you’ll be hooked and eager to find your own adventures.”

The book is available for $14.95 from publisher Lyons Press, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press, beginning today.  The 272-page paperback book includes numerous illustrations and maps, as well as checklists to track your progress through the daunting list.  For more information on Civil War 150, visit the Civil War Trust website at www.civilwar.org.

The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States.  Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds.  To date, the Trust has preserved nearly 30,000 acres of battlefield in 20 states.  Learn more at www.civilwar.org, the home of the Civil War sesquicentennial.