Fort Sumter - Charleston, SC

We here at American History Tours Inc. invite you to join us on an 8 day/7 night tour of some of the most historic sites from the American Civil War period of this country. The tour will start with a non-stop flight from the West Coast to Atlanta Georgia. We will spend the night in Atlanta with you free to enjoy the history of this historic town during the evening.

On Monday morning we will board a luxury bus for the trip to Charleston SC. We will arrive in Charleston about mid-day and visit the site of Fort Sumter, where the civil war began and gain an appreciation for what the war was really all about.

The evening is yours to explore historic Charleston SC. The sights of Charleston can also be enjoyed from an entirely different and relaxed view by enjoying a Charleston Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour. There's a lot of history in Charleston, and you will enjoy informative and very interesting historical tours that focus on pirates, the Civil War, slavery, patriots, and the history of Charleston.

Action on the Mound Battery, January 15, 1865 North Carolina Office of Archives & History

On Tuesday, we will travel along the SC coast to Wilmington NC the location of Fort Fisher. Fort Fisher was a series of embattlements and protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865. After two attempts the Union captured the fortifications a few months before the end of the war. Also located in Wilmington is the Wilmington aquarium for those who want a few hours with Mother Nature.

A Southern Legacy: The Confederate Executive Mansion

On Wednesday morning we travel up to Richmond VA, a 4 hr bus ride during which you can socialize with new or old acquaintances or get involved with the Civil War videos we will be offering on the bus. Wednesday afternoon we will visit the White House of the Confederacy as well as the Richmond National Battlefield Park. For the evening the city of Richmond provides accommodations for dining from bargain basement to fine dining.

Battlefield at Gettysburg

On Thursday morning we will be heading up to Gettysburg Pa where some of the most intense fighting of the civil war occurred. Gettysburg was the most northern advance of the Confederate Army and after 3 days of conflict nearly 8,000 Americans lay dead, and many more wounded.

The enormous loss of life prompted President Lincoln to dedicate a cemetery at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863, and give his legendary Gettysburg Address. This Union victory, more than any other battle of the war, ended the Confederacy’s hopes for foreign aide and shattered General Lee’s image of invincibility.

The Reconstructed Wilmer McLean House

On Friday morning we head to Appomattox, VA. Here on April 9, 1865 nearly two years, after the defeat at Gettysburg the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia met the Union Army under Ulysses S. Grant. The greatly outnumbered Confederate Army fought the final engagement of the war and General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and signed the surrender documents on April 9, 1865 in the parlor of a house owned by Wilmer McLean.

Three days later on April 12, 1865, a formal ceremony marked the disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia and the parole of its officers and men, effectively ending the Civil War.

The Biltmore Estate - courtesy of the Biltmore Website

Saturday we get a glimpse of post Civil War America with a visit to the relaxed elegance of George and Edith Vanderbilt's 250-room family home and country retreat in Asheville, NC. Discover original art from masters such as Renoir, magnificent 16th-century tapestries, Napoleon's chess set, a library with 10,000 volumes, a Banquet Hall with a 70-foot ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley, and priceless antiques.

Sunday we go back to Atlanta, GA for a non-stop return to Seattle, WA.

If you are as enthused about this as I am, go to Sign-Up for Tours, select your desired tour and complete the reservation form to reserve your spot. Print the reservation form and mail your deposit or full payment, to "American History Tours Inc. 262 Eastgate Dr. Box 235 , Aiken , SC 29803" . See you in Atlanta Ga.