Georgia unveils Civil War 150th anniversary logo, website for tourism, marketing

The Georgia Department of Economic Development has unveiled its logo and website design for the state's observance of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Details on the state's tourism plans for the event were presented recently at the Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference in Athens.

The logo looks like a soldier's belt buckle and has a large "GA" in the center, reminiscent of a "CSA" or "US" during the war.

The state also is updating the book "Crossroads of Conflict: A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia", is printing and circulating a Civil War driving map (below) and will unveil a special website in late October, according to the department. The push is for 2011-2015.

The website "will be an inviting and engaging interactive experience that drives tourism by allowing consumers to feel, experience and engage in Georgia’s history. Features include an interactive map, historical timeline, heritage war trails, ecommerce, and social media." the state says.

The site is not yet complete, said Stefanie Paupeck of the department's communications office.

"The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War is the most significant heritage tourism event impacting Georgia in coming years. The state has the opportunity of educating residents and tourists alike to the role Georgia played in this critical moment in U.S. history," according to a statement.

More than a dozen states have had sesquicentennial websites up for several months. Observers have said the anniversary has not been a funding priority of the Perdue administration.

The website is a portal for local governments and businesses to tout their plans.

"As of now, we are not sponsoring a major sesquicentennial event. We are promoting all the activities and events that our tourism partners around the state are hosting," Paupeck said. "Over the next four years the Sesquicentennial will be a huge part of the tourism division’s marketing efforts including features in our newsletters, quarterly contests, travel guide feature in the 2011 issue and so on."

According to the state, the CW150 website will reach beyond just Civil War buffs to “to tell the story in a compelling way to a much broader audience.”

It will also direct travelers to points of interest and events.

"Crossroads" serves the "dual purpose as tour guide and as an in-depth history of Civil War Georgia. Included are over 200 modern and period photographs, images, maps, GPS coordinates, and a detailed chronology of events as they unfolded during the four-year conflict," the state says.