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Gday people am in the us for 4-6 weeks and am doing the following, Gettysb,Fredricksburg,Richm,Wilmington,Charlston,Savannah,Chick and Chatt,Nashv,Shiloh any ideas on stuff to see apart from the obvious nat park stuff in these towns,once in a life time trip from Australia

Vicksburg isn't too far from Shiloh matty, you may want to add that to the list, anyways hope you have a good time and welcome!

Some good stuff in Chattanooga if you have time
**Confederama** Miniature show on the civil war campaigns in area, well worth seeing
Lookout Mountain
Aquarium
Chattanooga Choo Choo (steep train ride up lookout)
Ruby Falls (underground cave with waterfall)

That is a good list of things to do in the SE TN area. The Aquarium has added two expansion over the last decade and is even more of an attraction now. Chickamauga is a great battlefield with a nice collection of artillery and an impressive rifle collection.
Savannah is also a great spot for history, great houses food and some nice pubs along the river.

Aa long as you're on the south east coast, Yorktown and other ships are on display atPatriot's Point naval museum in South Carolina. North Carolina is tied up at the Cape Fear river in Wilmington, North Carolina.


Iowa class Wisconsin is at Norfolk, Virginia. Any place further north is to be avoided because of outrageous taxes, confiscatory toll roads, and an indiginous criminal class who prey on unarmed foreign tourists.

Are you are willing to go a bit out of your direct path, and see something not directly connected to military history? In October I took a trip to Gettysburg, and I flew in and out of Baltimore. Since I had a half day to spare, I spent some very enjoyable time at the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Museum.

Also, while at Gettysburg, I recommend the Cyclorama. People who saw it before the recent restoration say it was not very impressive. I can't speak to that, but it is impressive now that it is displayed in the manner intended. It even gave an illusion of being 3-D in a few places!

You have a great list there. I don't have any suggestions to add but I just wanna say that I hope you enjoy your trip! People always criticize America for having a "short" history, but we have lots of rich history and I'm sure you'll get to see that firsthand.

The Gettysburg Cyclorama is indeed astounding. The annoying thing is that first you have to watch a movie about the battle, which is so basic that it will be a complete waste of your time. (It's a fluff piece, compared to the more informative movies I've seen at Antietam and Fredericksburg.) Maybe you can ask to see just the Cyclorama and skip the movie -- it would still be worth the $10.

When visiting Shiloh here is the place you want to eat, just a few miles north of park headquarters: http://www.catfishhotel.com/. Not that there are a lot of choices in the area, but this is one of those quintessentially American regional restaurants (which in this region means catfish). Part of the reason I want to return to Shiloh is that I want to eat there again.

Savannah is a great city, so be sure to budget 2+ days there. Fort Pulaski's interesting, but there is so much to see just walking around.

Based on where you'll be, I'd agree that Lookout Mountain is worth a visit.

As for Richmond, the Museum of the Confederacy and the museum at the Tredegar Iron Works are both worth visiting, with the MOC the better place if you can only spend time in one. Of the nearby battlefields I'd recommend Gaines' Mill, Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, which are close enough together that they can be seen in a few hours. I can't speak to the others, though.

Also, it seems like your route will take you past Petersburg, which is worth visiting. So is the Museum of the Civil War Soldier (as I think it's called) south of that city. (Don't bother seeing the nearby Five Forks battlefield, unless you REALLY care about the siege -- it's just some intersecting roads with rifle pits.)

Oh, and since someone is trying to pull you away from your path by mentioning Vicksburg, I'll say that Fort Donelson is a tremendous place to visit, especially because of the view of the river and the big guns overlooking it.

I hope you have a great time. Seems hard not to, with that itinerary.

Thanks guys all taken on board and cannot wait

If you can squeeze it in I would suggest the Antietam battlefield. You will be in the general area anyway and it was a major Civil War battle; the bloodiest single day of the war. The rolling terrain of Maryland is beautiful and the battlefield has such memorable sites such as Burnside's Bridge, Bloody Lane, and the Dunker Church. It is my favorite Civil War battlefield after Gettysburg.

Used to live in Nashville, great town.

If you have time look up Uncle Al's Wargameing Shop

Also NashCon is sometime in June this year I think.

Been gone 20 some years now.

Lee