The 150th anniversaries of the Civil War and Emancipation continue to make sense for destinations and the travel industry. As the country commemorates the anniversaries, travelers are looking for opportunities to learn about the conflict, the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (RMCVB) says.
The bureau - the official destination marketing and tourism organization for the Richmond Region - promotes the region to meeting planners, tour operators and leisure travelers.
As the former capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA offers a wealth of Civil War and Emancipation experiences that can help Americans better understand its shared history, the RMCVB says.
On the third annual Civil War and Emancipation Day, April 14, 2012, visitors are being invited to a day of special events with free entry into nearly 30 sites and attractions, and free transportation between the sites.
From discussions with leading Civil War scholars to guided tours of historic Richmond sites, cannon firings to children's games, song and dance performances to canal boat rides, Civil War & Emancipation Day provides an opportunity to explore Confederate, Union and African-American history as well as history about life on the home front during the war, the RMCVB reports.
Additional activities include a marketplace, special exhibits, artifact washing, and mingling with historic interpreters. Guests will have the opportunity to visit attractions such as the Virginia State Capitol, Museum of the Confederacy, Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia and American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, the first museum in the U.S. to explore the war through three interwoven perspectives: Union, Confederate and African-American.
Guided tours of the Richmond Slave Trail will be available and participants can tour on wheels by taking a Segway ride. More information about the day’s events and participating organizations can be found at civilwar.emancipationday.net.
A new addition to this year’s Civil War and Emancipation Day is the Richmond Adventure Race, visit www.RichmondAdventureRace.com.
Richmond Region hotels have also developed special lodging packages that will be available for Civil War and Emancipation Day and for the duration of the 150th commemoration. Package details as well as a full calendar of events can be found at www.OnToRichmond.com, the Richmond Region’s official Civil War and Emancipation 150th web site. The Crowne Plaza Hotel Richmond Downtown is offering Richmond Adventure Race participants a special rate of $89 including breakfast and self-parking.
Civil War and Emancipation Day is produced by Future of Richmond’s Past, a collaborative effort among leaders of Richmond's historical societies, museums, commissions, cultural and tourism organizations, and educational institutions.
Admission to most sites and performances is free, the bureau says. More than 6 million people visit the Richmond Region annually, contributing more than $1.75 billion to the local economy. Tourism generates nearly 20,000 jobs in the Richmond Region.
Visit www.VisitRichmondVA.com