Two West Virginia Civil War Trails Markers Unveiled in Greenbrier County
Lewisburg, WV (August 18, 2009) - The City of Alderson and Organ Cave received Civil War Trails signage on August 12, 2009, as part of the West Virginia Division of Tourism’s efforts to fund and install 150 Civil War Trails signs throughout the state.
Signage in Alderson denotes the strategic crossing of the Alderson’s Ferry at the Greenbrier River. During the Civil War, the ferry played a significant role as both Union and Confederate forces used it to carry men and supplies across the river.
Organ Cave played an important role during the Civil War as well. Because of the available saltpeter in the cave, General Robert E. Lee’s soldiers were able to use the area as an underground ammunition factory. Hoppers used in the production of gunpowder can still be seen there today.
The signage is located in Alderson at Alumni Park on the south side of the Greenbrier River and at the entrance of Organ Cave. Organ Cave is located on Route 63 between Routes 219 and 60.
For questions, or additional information, please call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 304-645-1000.
About the Civil War Trails Program:
Civil War Trails is a multi-state program that identifies, interprets and creates driving tours of Civil War campaigns and the lesser-known sites. The interpretive markers with maps, illustrations and text have been installed at more than 900 previously un-interpreted sites throughout West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee. The Civil War Trails program is administered by a nonprofit corporation and is supported by local communities, state tourism offices and state departments of transportation. In 2001, the National Trust for Historic Preservation identified the Civil War Trails program as one of the most successful and sustainable heritage tourism programs across the nation.
About the Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
The CVB’s mission is to strive each day to positively impact the area’s economy by marketing the region as a premier tourist destination. The Greenbrier Valley is the second most visited region in the state with 1.3 million visitors annually and an economic impact of more than $223 million.
# # #
