Area hopes to use Civil War heritage to gain tourists, dollars

Published 2:00 am Thursday, April 29, 2010

Dalton has a “golden opportunity” to turn itself into the “Gateway to Georgia Civil War History” as the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the “War Between the States” nears, local officials said Wednesday.

A group of Dalton and Whitfield County residents met at the downtown freight depot to discuss tentative events to mark the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Civil War, which began in 1861 and ended in 1865.

Jim Burran, a former president of Dalton State College and a member of the local committee, believes Whitfield County is strongly positioned to be the hub of the state because of its ties to the war. Also, funding for the proposed Resaca Battlefield visitor’s center in Gordon County dried up, making Whitfield County the logical choice as a Civil War focal point.

“There’s not going to be anything in North Georgia unless Dalton can capture that spot,” Burran said.

The group wants to showcase Whitfield County’s rich Civil War history — from the start of the Atlanta campaign in Tunnel Hill to the vintage Hamilton House that served as a hospital — to draw visitors and their dollars to the area. A proposed series of local commemorations beginning in September of this year and ending in April 2015 have been floated, while annual events such as the Civil War show at the trade center in February and the Battle of Tunnel Hill will help continue the momentum.

The group has partnered with several state and regional organizations in the planning process, including the Tri-State Civil War 150th Commemoration Association, Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails Association and the Georgia Civil War Commission.