Bronzeville Launches Tour That Hails lllinois' Chief Commanding Officers

Chicago's Bronzeville develops a New Military History Tour for the Abraham LIncoln Bicentennial that will run through 2009. The Tour of Duty: Bronzeville Military Monuments & Moments in History highligths more than 12 sites and a timeline that covers the Revolutionary War to President-elect Barack Obama.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 11, 2008 -- Veterans Day 2008, the Bronzeville Visitor Information Center launched a unique Patriotism tour entitled: The Tour of Duty: Bronzeville Military Monuments & Moments in History. The tour was developed through a grant from the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. On the inaugural tour were veterans from George L. Giles Post #87 of the American Legion along with Illinois State Representative Constance Howard.

The Bronzeville Visitor Information Center in collaboration with the Black Metropolis National Heritage Area was chosen along with 14 other organizations to receive a grant from the Commission to assist in developing a tour to celebrate the 200th birthday of America's 16th president and highlight the historical significance to Illinois and, specifically, the African American community.

"In addition to increasing interest for heritage tourism around Chicago's Southside, the newly elected Commander in Chief, Barack Obama, has made Abraham Lincoln even more relevant for today," said Paula Robinson, President of the Black Metropolis National Heritage Area. "We are excited to have these historical assets in our community to develop interpretive cultural programs that make history come alive and provide something educational and memorable to share with local and international visitors. And, of course we've had to add a ride past the home of the President-elect to the tour route."

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The Tour of Duty is an interactive, two hour motor coach tour to sites that explore Chicago's tributes to the Revolutionary War, Spanish American War, Civil War, World War I & ll, Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Tour begins in Lincoln Park with stops at the Chicago History Museum, where visitors can see Abraham Lincoln's bed. Later they can walk the grounds of Camp Douglas a Confederate

Prisoner of War Camp know as the "Eighty Acres of Hell". There is opportunity for dialogue around "The Great Debate" during a visit to the Stephen Douglas Tomb & State Park The tour highlights more than 12 sites and ends at the Confederate Mound in Oakwood Cemetery the largest Confederate burial ground in the North.                 

This year long Military History tour, will run throughout 2009 to celebrate the Lincoln Bicentennial and is scheduled for the first Saturday of every month for groups of 6 or more. School tours are also available Thursdays. Reservations can be made via Grayline Tours at 800.621.4153. Additional information can be found at www.bronzevilleonline.com , or by phone at 773.373.2842.

The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area is a candidate for congressional designation, and currently has a Study Bill H.R. 5505 that was presented by Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D), from the first Congressional District of IL. The Bill was introduced in February 2008 and has 9 co-sponsors to date. The Bronzeville Visitor Information Center is an affiliate of the Black Metropolis Convention & Tourism Council a non-profit 501(c) 3 Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) chartered statewide in Illinois.

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