150th Anniversary of the Civil War

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War between the North and South. On April 12, 1861, fighting began with an attack on Ft. Sumter, South Carolina. Follow the link above, to read about this historical day and other information including Civil War artifacts from the Smithsonian Institute.

During the Civil War, several battles took place in Oklahoma which was considered Indian Territory at that time. To commemorate this anniversary in Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation will host a tour on April 16, 2011, focusing on how the war impacted the Cherokee people. The tour will run from 8am to 5pm and will depart from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa. For more information, please consult the Cherokee Nation Tourism site.

"The tour includes a visit to historic Capitol Square in Tahlequah, Okla., to learn about the destruction by Confederate troops. Guests will also visit the Murrell Home, an antebellum home that survived the fires of the Civil War. Visitors will explore Fort Gibson Historic Site, which changed hands several times between the Union and Confederate forces. Guests also will stop at Honey Springs Battle site, a turning point in the Civil War and the site of the largest battle fought between the states in Indian Territory."