The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership’s (JTHG) Annual Meeting, July 15-17, will take place in historic Gettysburg, PA, at the Majestic Theater.  With the theme of Switching the Lens: A New Perspective on History, this year’s annual meeting includes unique perspectives from the presidents of Harvard University, Gettysburg College and University of Richmond; launching of a new book describing contributions made by African Americans who lived within this National Heritage Area; “Gettysburg” filmmaker Ron Maxwell; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Executive Director Barbara Franco; rarely seen stereoscopic Civil War images, and much more.

A four-state partnership from Gettysburg to Monticello, the JTHG Partnership created the National Heritage Area of the same name. The Partnership is a non-profit that brings businesses, developers, preservationists, heritage sites, farmers, students, teachers, concerned citizens and elected officials to the table to celebrate America’s heritage in the most historic corridor in our nation while simultaneously fostering opportunities for economic growth and creating educational programs for students of every age.

With 11,000 years of dense history from ancient burial grounds and Native American history to 400 years of European, American and African American heritage, this National Heritage Area is known as the region Where America Happened. Nine U.S. presidential homes grace the rolling hills, along with two World Heritage sites, 49 National Heritage districts and more than a million acres on the National Registry of Historic Places.

WHO: Highlights of the three-day event include:

 Director and Producer Ron Maxwell will introduce the showing of his epic film, Gettysburg, followed by discussion.  Noon to 5:00pm, July 15

 Harvard University President, Civil War Historian and acclaimed author, Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust discusses her book, This Republic of Suffering, and describes how the American Civil War affected the fabric of American culture even to this day.  7:30 – 9:30pm, July 15

Stereoscope, or 3-D photography, was all the rage in the Civil War era, but few today have had the pleasure to see these images on a large screen or in the completely restored Majestic Theater.  The Institute for Civil War Photography has digitized the images of Civil War taken by legendary photographers Matthew Brady, Alexander Gardner and others, and have created a stunning presentation that will deliver a rarely seen perspective of President Lincoln and the American Civil War. 7:30pm, July 15

National Book Award finalist, Dr. Edward L. Ayers, who is also president of the University of Richmond, and co-host of the new radio show, The History Guys, will offer yet another perspective — history from ground level.  10:00am, July 16

Unveiling of a new book: Honoring Their Paths: African American Contributions Along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.  It shines a light on the realities of slave life, freemen, nationally acclaimed artists and civil rights leaders, revealing three hundred years of untold contributions to our American heritage.  Written by Dr. Deborah Lee, it’s a 248-page book that was produced with the keen insight and expertise of 34 historians and academicians.  The book includes fifteen easy-to-use maps, fascinating profiles as well as archival images depicting many of the indelible contributions made by African Americans who lived within the four-state Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area that runs from Gettysburg, PA to Monticello, VA.   Noon, July 16

Workshops focused on the Economic Impacts of Heritage Tourism that brings in experts from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, including Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Executive Director Barbara Franco, Assistant Director of Visitor Experience Programs Maryland Office of Tourism Development, Marci Wolff Ross and  , to discuss how heritage tourism can impact the economy and not the other way around. 2-4pm July 16

For a complete agenda, go to: HallowedGround.org

WHERE: All events held at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, PA

WHEN: July 15-17, 2009