DC Hosts 'Civil War To Civil Rights' Program
WASHINGTON -- From Abraham Lincoln's tide-turning elections and inaugurations to Dr. Martin Luther King's soul-stirring "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC has served as a powerful backdrop for catalyzing moments in the Civil War and civil rights movement. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the war and to explore DC's unique role in the civil rights movement, cultural attractions, historic landmarks, cultural organizations and historic sites throughout the capital region have joined together for a unique promotion, "Civil War to Civil Rights."
The program is coordinated by Destination DC, the city's official tourism office, in partnership with local and national entities such as the National Park Service, National Archives and Cultural Tourism DC, and is designed to coincide with significant developments, including: Officials representing more than 20 such organizations gathered at the Willard InterContinental Washington today to announce the initiative and to preview upcoming events and programs. "The Civil War and civil rights movement changed history. Those changes were felt in Washington, DC in a way unlike any other city because of what is here and what this city represents. The same holds true when civil rights issues emerge today," saidElliott L. Ferguson, president & CEO, Destination DC. "We have created this promotion to encourage visitors to make DC their home base as they explore battlefields and historic sites around the region. We also want to help visitors to make the critical connections between the war's causes and its consequences." The event also served as the official launch for the National Park Service's sesquicentennial commemoration. "The American Civil War was the most momentous era in American history," said Robert Sutton, NPS Chief Historian. "In the short period between Abraham Lincoln's first election and inauguration, our nation was already splitting apart. With more than 75 Civil War-related battlefields and historic sites, our collective mission is to preserve and protect these resources, and to provide understanding of the events that occurred there, within the context of the causes and consequences of the war." "The 'causes and consequences' context encourages us to join with our tourism partners in inviting Americans to personalize our history through experiential travel," said Dean Reeder, NPS tourism chief. "Beyond the battlefields are an expansive set of stories, civil rights and a home front heritage saga, connecting visitors to a lifelong appreciation and understanding of parks as national treasures." To support the "Civil War to Civil Rights" initiative, Destination DC launched a dedicated web channel, washington.org/CWCR. The new channel will remain a part of Washington.org during and beyond the commemoration period and will be updated as additional events are confirmed. The site includes: The promotion coincides with events taking place across the nation to mark the Civil War sesquicentennial. Many of the war's most significant battles took place within a short drive of the White House, including First & Second Manassas (Bull Run),Antietam and Gettysburg. DC visitors can step through buildings that hosted key players and witnessed pivotal events, such as the Willard Hotel, where Lincoln stayed prior to his inauguration, the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum, where Lincoln's second inaugural ball took place, and Arlington National Cemetery, located on land formerly owned by the Lee family. They can catch a show at Ford's Theatre, just as Lincoln did on the night of his assassination, or visit the International Spy Museum to learn about some of the war's stealthiest characters, including women spies such as Rose Greenbow. Special events and exhibitions are also planned to coincide with the anniversary, including: During the war years, DC took a leading role in the quest for equality, setting the stage for the dynamic part it would play in the civil rights movement. Slaves were freed in the District nearly a year before they were freed nationwide and many landmark decisions were handed down from the Supreme Court. The region is home to civil rights landmarks such as the Greensboro lunch counter (on view at the National Museum of American History), the gravesites of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedyand Medgar Evers at Arlington National Cemetery, and Howard University, where President Lyndon Johnson outlined his plans for civil rights legislation. Civil rights issues, from marriage equality to immigration reform, continue to draw people to DC today. Featured civil rights-related programming scheduled during the commemorative period includes:
