History is urging Americans to "Give 150" to help protect and preserve Civil War battlefields.
The network, which earlier announced a four-year programming commitment coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the firing on Fort Sumter, S.C., said its new initiative is in partnership with the Civil War Trust and the National Park Foundation.
Public service announcements and a VIP press lunch to be held in April also will direct viewers to online giving and service opportunities as part of the Give 150 initiative. To learn more go to: www.give150.com.
History also launched a dedicated website, Civil War 150, bringing consumers -- from history enthusiasts to those with a casual interest in the War -- an immersive, in-depth look at one of America's most important, tragic and fascinating events. Hosted on History.com, the site identifies the 150 people, places, events and technology that defined America's greatest conflict, using cutting-edge design to create a multi-media online experience.
History.com worked with a variety of 16 prominent Civil War experts and historians to create an authoritative list for the Civil War 150, asking them to cast their votes for what they thought were the most important people, places, events and technology to highlight. Users can check out what the experts picked, vote for their own choices and share with friends via social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
History also recently announced "The National Civil War Student Challenge," a trivia competition launched by the network and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The challenge -- which will award a total of $35,000 in college scholarships, including a $15,000 scholarship to the grand prize winner -- began on April 7. High school students who excel in Civil War history will have the opportunity to turn their knowledge into college scholarships.
History also joined with the Library of Congress, with whom the network has a longstanding relationship, as a key corporate sponsor of their upcoming exhibit, "The Last Full Measure: Civil War Photographs from the Liljenquist Family Collection." The exhibit will be free and open to the public from April 12-Aug. 13, 2011, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, in the second-floor South Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.
The exhibition commemorates the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, which started on April 12, 1861, and will serve as a memorial to those who gave their lives during the devastating conflict by displaying images of 360 Union soldiers-one for every 1,000 who died-and 52 Confederate soldiers-one for every 5,000.
One highlight of the network's upcoming programming is Gettysburg, a two-hour feature documentary executive-produced by acclaimed filmmaker brothers, Tony (Top Gun) and Ridley (Gladiator) Scott.
