Wirral urged to market its links with American Civil War to tourists
WIRRAL is being urged to market itself as a major destination for tourists marking the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.
US education chiefs visited the borough last week to look at how sights of historical interest – including Cammell Laird – could be incorporated into special tours from 2011-15.
It is estimated there are at least 16 separate sites in Wirral with connections to the war.
The infamous CSS Alabama warship was built at Lairds in 1862, while the Argyle Rooms, in Birkenhead, were an important meeting place for the anti-slavery lobby during the conflict.
The last formal surrender took place aboard the CSS Shenandoah off the coast of Tranmere, more than six months after the end of the war in 1865.
Wirral’s waterfront is only the second place outside the USA to be accorded American Civil War Heritage Site status by the Civil War Preservation Trust.
During his visit, Len Riedel, executive director of the Blue & Gray Education Society, met with tourism officers from Wirral Council to discuss how to take advantage.
He said: “We want to bring Europe into this because it was significant in the Civil War.
“I think there is a real opportunity here to bring Americans into a different part of the country – right now, they visit England and they look at it as London.
