Kenosha, WI (January 23, 2008) - The Civil War rises again! 2008 promises to be an exciting year for the Kenosha Area as the Civil War Museum will open its doors on June 14. This museum will share a story not told in any other museum in the nation.

Located midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, the Kenosha Area is a year-round destination featuring family attractions, museums, historic districts, lighthouse tours, art galleries, shopping, outdoor recreation, sporting events, festivals and much more! All the details can be found in the 2008 Kenosha Area Visitors Guide.

The Civil War Museum will tell how the Upper Middle West states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan played a vital role during the Civil War. How the states sent troops, supplies, ammunition, weapons, food, uniforms and more to the war effort. How men and boys went off to war, while women and children took their place in the workforce and in the fields. Soldiers were wounded, lives were lost, and a nation was changed. The Civil War Museum on the Lake Michigan shore in Kenosha, Wisconsin will share this story and so much more. Be a part of history at the grand opening celebration June 14 and 15.

Just as the region has a rich Civil War history to share, Kenosha has a rich maritime history. A Lighthouse Keepers Museum is slated to open this summer. Housed in the newly restored 1867 cottage at the foot of the Southport Lighthouse, the Museum will tell the story of Kenosha’s harbor and its importance in the city’s development, from transporting wheat and grains to other states, to shipping Nash and Jeffrey automobiles around the world. It will also share stories of the lives of Kenosha’s lighthouse keepers; an often perilous, but necessary duty of the time. Stay tuned for more details as this restoration effort continues.

The Kenosha Area is a vibrant community with One Great Lake – and Countless Great Times! Please help us spread the word this year. The free 2008 Kenosha Area Visitors Guide can be downloaded and ordered online at www.KenoshaCVB.com. The web site also contains the most up-to-date Calendar of Events, free e-newsletter, coupons, hotel packages, a Getaway contest, and much more. The Guide is also available by calling the Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 654-7309.

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