Civil War Trails Expands in Hardy County, W.Va.

Originally published May 2020 · p. 5

Civil War Trails, Inc. has teamed up with the Hardy County Convention & Visitors Bureau (HCCVB) and the South Fork General Store to bring the popular program to Peru. The HCCVB will sustain the signage through maintenance and marketing efforts. Located at the eastern end of the bridge in the small community of Peru, the sign is being hosted by the South Fork General Store located at 111 Peru Hollow Road, Milam. The Civil War Trails program connects visitors to more than 1,200 sites across six states. The program’s signature signs bring the modern landscape to life as visitors stand in the footsteps of soldiers, citizens, and those fighting to gain their freedom. Every Civil War Trails site is marketed internationally by state tourism offices, destination marketing organizations, and municipal partners. The program continues to experience record visitation providing a strong return on investment and revenue for local jurisdictions. “Our program is experiencing our youngest audience to date,” said Drew Gruber, Executive Director of Civil War Trails. “Places off the beaten path and personal stories are exactly what our visitors are after and you can’t get this particular story anywhere else in the world but Peru, W.Va.” “Various Hardy County locations changed hands numerous times during the War adding to the complex history for our region. Currently home to nine Civil War Trails Markers documenting skirmishes, troop movements, historic buildings, and sites, Hardy County’s history is linked to other sites across participating states,” said Michele MoureReeves, HCCVB Director. “We welcome visitors and residents alike to explore our county’s role in the Civil War by using the educational trail markers to gather historical information and better understand the impact the Civil War had on our county, state, and country.” “West Virginia’s statehood is a direct result of the Civil War, which makes our many trails, battlefields, and reenactments an important part of our tourism industry,” Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby said. “We continue to see interest from visitors looking to experience our rich history, and thanks to the support of the Civil War Trails organization, we’re able to mark and promote these stops to new travelers every day.” A new West Virginia Civil War Trails map is currently under development and Civil War Trails has launched a GPS enabled page on their website to aid visitors in their quest to find these sites (civilwartrails.org). For more information go to the ‘History Buff’ page of the Hardy County Convention & Visitors Bureau website (visithardywv.com), or call the HCCVB at 304-897-8700 or the Civil War Trails, Inc. at 757-378-5462. Connect with us on social media @civilwartrails