Speaker: Drew Gruber
Friday, October 25th
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Drew Gruber is the Executive Director of Civil War Trails. Despite his title, he spends most of his time in overalls fixing and installing the signs while chatting with visitors to help them find the best BBQ and bourbon between the battlefields. He holds a BA in Historic Preservation from Mary Washington College, an MS from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a certification as a Travel Marketing Professional. He is a recovering surfer who enjoys gardening and is curious about saltwater fly fishing.
Civil War Trails is the world's largest 'open-air museum' offering over 1,500 sites across six states. Each Civil War Trails site enables you to stand in the footsteps of history. You can follow the great campaigns turn-by-turn in your car, hike to remote earthworks atop mountains, or paddle between sites. Each Civil War Trails site has an interpretive sign to help fuel your imagination, and a system of iconic 'trailblazers' and map guides help visitors explore each region. Drew will chat about the program's origins and growth since 1994, showing recent examples of the new stories and illustrating why the program is growing and becoming popular with younger and more diverse travelers.
Speaker: Drew Gruber
Friday, October 25th
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Drew Gruber is the Executive Director of Civil War Trails. Despite his title, he spends most of his time in overalls fixing and installing the signs while chatting with visitors to help them find the best BBQ and bourbon between the battlefields. He holds a BA in Historic Preservation from Mary Washington College, an MS from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a certification as a Travel Marketing Professional. He is a recovering surfer who enjoys gardening and is curious about saltwater fly fishing.
Civil War Trails is the world's largest 'open-air museum' offering over 1,500 sites across six states. Each Civil War Trails site enables you to stand in the footsteps of history. You can follow the great campaigns turn-by-turn in your car, hike to remote earthworks atop mountains, or paddle between sites. Each Civil War Trails site has an interpretive sign to help fuel your imagination, and a system of iconic 'trailblazers' and map guides help visitors explore each region. Drew will chat about the program's origins and growth since 1994, showing recent examples of the new stories and illustrating why the program is growing and becoming popular with younger and more diverse travelers.
