Commercialized battlefields?

[archieclement]

I mean ACW commercialization, would assume Gettysburg is number one in a city preserving buildings, tours, museums, mini museums, ACW tourist traps and themed attractions or sites? So cities that have embraced and promoted related tourism.

But what would be 2nd or 3rd? Of ones I've attended would say both Vicksburg and Chattanooga had a little, but wouldn't consider very over the top.

Would thought in years past, Richmond might qualify highly.....but in destroying and removing monuments ect, would seem counterproductive to embracing and promoting its history for tourism.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

This is it at Salem Church … there was an empty field across Route 3 from it but was bulldozed and now a shopping center. Every year it seems to lap closer.

 

[History hoarder63]

View attachment 535288
This is it at Salem Church … there was an empty field across Route 3 from it but was bulldozed and now a shopping center. Every year it seems to lap closer.

I dug there when they cleared ground for that shipping center many years ago. It had been hit very hard already. I think I found a bullet and a small shell frag. Salem Church is a crying shame. I remember it before all the modern junk and it was a nice battlefield at least where the Confederate lines were. The Union attacking route had already been developed along 3 when I was a kid.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

The only Wilderness at Salem Church these days.
I wrote about the engagements here when I first started posting. One was little known and involved USCT at C'ville.

 

[Sheltowee]

Think Gettysburg is in a league of its own. And it is a picturesque, historic town- so it figures.

How about Harper's Ferry? I've never been- but sounds like the place really embraces the history?

 

[John Winn]

Think Gettysburg is in a league of its own. And it is a picturesque, historic town- so it figures.

How about Harper's Ferry? I've never been- but sounds like the place really embraces the history?

I'd say so but it's different than Gettysburg because it's really small and there's not a lot other than the historic buildings. It's also mostly steep ground. The main drag has some restaurants which is really about all that's available other than the historic buildings. So I wouldn't call it commercialized but the history is certainly embraced.

You can take a shuttle bus from the visitor's center which eliminates the need to park in town (very limited) so there's also little traffic.

 

[archieclement]

Think Gettysburg is in a league of its own. And it is a picturesque, historic town- so it figures.

How about Harper's Ferry? I've never been- but sounds like the place really embraces the history?

I wondered about Harper's ferry, Charleston and Richmond, but also haven't been to any of three.

But would think Richmond would be curious choice now.....as it's seems to be removing/distancing itself from its history. Which its curious as it's civil war history is rather directly connected to the Confederacy. So to really promote civil war tourism, would think its rather instrumental to acknowledge its confederate history........

 

[John Winn]

I wondered about Harper's ferry, Charleston and Richmond, but also haven't been to any of three.

But would think Richmond would be curious choice now.....as it's seems to be removing/distancing itself from its history. Which its curious as it's civil war history is rather directly connected to the Confederacy. So to really promote civil war tourism, would think its rather instrumental to acknowledge its confederate history........

I've been to Richmond and Charleston (family history in both places). While there certainly are CW things to see in both places I'd not say they really sell it in the same way Gettysburg does (and can). There's a lot of other historic things in both cities so there's certainly tourism regarding that but it's not like they really promote the CW per se (other than having several destination places). And I did feel that Richmond in particular was sort of distancing itself from it's CW associations (Charleston no so much but they've got a lot of history from before the CW too).

 

[archieclement]

I've been to Richmond and Charleston (family history in both places). While there certainly are CW things to see in both places I'd not say they really sell it in the same way Gettysburg does (and can). There's a lot of other historic things in both cities so there's certainly tourism regarding that but it's not like they really promote the CW per se (other than having several destination places). And I did feel that Richmond in particular was sort of distancing itself from it's CW associations (Charleston no so much but they've got a lot of history from before the CW too).

I've always had the impression Gettysburg was in a league of its own in regards to ACW tourism.

Was curious if any others really stand out, even if rather distant to Gettysburg.

I suppose perhaps DC could be considered having numerous sites and museums....but its got so many other aspects to promote as well.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

The Burg pulls a lot of folks in … also for colonial and George Washington boyhood farm at Ferry Farm. Old town Alexandria has CW Fort Ward. All these places are so developed and like little oasis in urban freeway sprawl.

 

[KianGaf]

Think Gettysburg is in a league of its own. And it is a picturesque, historic town- so it figures.

How about Harper's Ferry? I've never been- but sounds like the place really embraces the history?

I had a brief visit to Harpers Ferry and it is well worth a look. The countryside in the area is beautiful.

 

[archieclement]

I had a brief visit to Harpers Ferry and it is well worth a look. The countryside in the area is beautiful.

So Harper's Ferry would be closest to Gettysburg-esqe, just on a much smaller scale?

 

[KianGaf]

So Harper's Ferry would be closest to Gettysburg-esqe, just on a much smaller scale?

Afaik its a tourist destination. I only got the opportunity to a have brief look around John Browns fort and the collection of ruins that are nearby.