WV's Blue & Gray Trail Progress
March 25, 2008:
Civil War Trails program now in West Virginia The West Virginia Division of Tourism is partnering with Civil War Trails Inc. (www.civilwartrails.org) to implement a statewide Civil War signage/tourism marketing project using the same brand of interpretive signs commonly found along highways in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee. The Division of Tourism is paying for the purchase and installation of the first 150 qualifying Civil War sites in the state. West Virginia is positioned to benefit from the regional branding and cross-promotion that Civil War Trails offer, especially as we approach the sesquicentennial (150th) commemoration of the Civil War and the birth of our statehood. For information on what types of sites qualify and how to submit a Civil War site in or near your community, contact Justin Gaull at jgaull@wvtourism.com.
May 1, 2007
We've added a Documents page to store various program, planning and other relevent documents. The page is HERE.
January 16, 2006
We added a Questions & Answers page to this site.
January 16, 2006
The Ravenswood Development Authority is trying to generate additional interest in the western and northern parts of the county. We are also trying to arrange, in conjunction with groups from Meigs County, OH, for some type of gathering in the Ravenswood area this summer or in the early fall. Please visit their site:
http://wwwravenswoodwv.org/town%20(History).html?409
October 30, 2005
The web site goes public
Thanks to the generosity of the Spencer Rotary Club
for funding the fixed expenses and Bill Gross for
donating his time, this web site is now a reality.
Please direct your questions, comments, complaints
and such to webmaster AT bluegraytrail.com.
October 27, 2005
Task Force Meeting
More than 40 people from various cities and counties
attended this meeting, held in Spencer, WV at the
Heritage Building. The Task Force presented
Paul Mattox, Commissioner of West Virginia Department
of Highways with a formal request to re-designate
US 33 as the Blue and Gray Trail and to publicize
it with directional and informational signage. The
desired end state is to capture and preserve the
Civil War history of the region, as well as to promote
tourism across central West Virginia.
October 15, 2005
Civil War Dedication Ceremony
This event, held in front of the Roane County Courthouse in Spencer, WV, commemorated the events of the Civil War by dedicating some fixed monuments. We'll have close up pictures soon.
September 22, 2005
Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker
The Blue Star Memorial Highway program is sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. This organization purchases and places markers in various places commemorating and honoring all veterans of wars. The program has its roots in the blue star paper flags issued to families of World War II combatants. The families would display the blue star flag in their window as a badge of honor to show the neighborhood that their family had someone supporting the war effort. This marker is currently located in front of the Roane County Courthouse in Spencer, WV, with plans to relocate the marker to the Ruby Bradley Memorial Bridge, after it is widened.