CIVIL WAR SEMINAR ATTRACTS TOURISTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION
TO HONOR THE LIFE OF HISTORIAN ED BEARSS
Mayor names “Ed Bearss Weekend” and the Ed Bearss Award is announced.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA - Nearly 60 history enthusiasts from 17 states gathered to listen to the legendary bellow of Ed Bearss, one of the nation’s top Civil War battlefield historians, on and off the battlefield in a tributary weekend dedicated to the life and knowledge of Ed Bearss. Hosted by Chambersburg Civil War Seminars & Tours, the “Weekend with Ed Bearss” kicked off on April 4.

“It was a wonderful idea to do a tribute to Ed,” said Pat Eker, a first-time Chambersburg Civil War Seminar attendee from New Mexico. “[The weekend was] very well done, well organized, informative, creative and fun.” 

The seminar included a guided bus tour of Antietam and Gettysburg led by Bearss, as well as sessions with Bearss and historians like Terry Winschel and Dennis Frye, who described their experiences with Bearss. Bearss shared stories about his WWII wounding, raising the gunboat U.S.S. Cairo and his interactions with President Lyndon B. Johnson in acquiring the LBJ Ranch, in addition to Civil War topics.

The Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce has been offering the seminars in partnership with historian Ted Alexander since 1989. These seminars and tours not only provide an opportunity for the area’s history to be shared, but they attract tourists from across the nation every year.

For information about other 2014 seminars, please visitwww.civilwarseminars.org or call the Chamber at 717-264-7101.