America Online Launches New ``Civil War'' Special Feature to Coincide With the Broadcast of Ken Burns's Epic Series the Civil War on PBS

Business Wire, Sept 17, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech & Entertainment Writers

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2002

America Online (NYSE:AOL)

Thriving Online Community of Historians, Military Buffs, Reenactors,

and Americans Gather on AOL to Reflect and Discuss the

140th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam

AOL Keyword: Civil War Offers Live Online Chats with Ken Burns and Other Historians, Authors and Artists; Civil War Genealogy Search; Guides to Local Civil War Sites; Art and Photo Galleries; Civil War History and Maps

On the 140th anniversary of Antietam, America Online, the world's leading interactive services company, is launching a new "Civil War" special feature that enables AOL members to reflect on the haunting battle that took place near Hagerstown, Maryland in September 1862. AOL's Research & Learn Channel, the leading source for educational resources, is offering a robust package of educational and interactive programming to coincide with the rebroadcast of Ken Burns's epic series The Civil War, which airs on PBS September 22 - 26.

AOL's Research & Learn Channel has always been a popular place for thousands of American history buffs to gather, discuss, and research the Civil War. Starting September 17 at AOL Keyword: Civil War, AOL members can brush up on their Civil War knowledge even further by participating in a series of live online chats with notable experts and historians, including filmmaker Ken Burns. Online polls and message boards will give members a chance to discuss the "bloodiest war in American history" and reflect on modern controversies around issues such as the Confederate battle flag and causes of the Civil War.

Additionally, AOL members can browse a number of Civil War galleries, including an art gallery of work by the popular and respected Civil War artist Don Troiani, National Geographic photos that are available exclusively on AOL's Research & Learn Channel for three months, a gallery of great Civil War leaders, a reenactors gallery, as well as Antietam battlefield photos submitted by other AOL members.

"When The Civil War first aired in 1990, it became must-watch television and the highest-rated series in PBS history. Today, interest in the Civil War is still booming, especially on AOL," said Dr. Terry Crane, America Online's Vice President for Education, Families and Workplace. "AOL has always been a destination of choice for thousands of people who wish to learn more and talk about historic events, from groups of reenactors gathering online and sharing their experiences to people tracing their family history back to the Civil War era."

Do you have any Confederates or Yankees in your family lineage? AOL's Research & Learn Channel is working with Ancestry.com to provide AOL members with free exclusive access to 30 Civil War databases, providing information on more than 2.5 million people. AOL members can create their family trees and see if they're related to any famous historic figures, such as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Stonewall Jackson, or Abraham Lincoln. Ancestry.com estimates that some 100 million Americans have a relative who fought in the Civil War.

The AOL Local Guide (AOL Keyword: Local or www.digitalcity.com/civilwarsites) is also offering AOL members a one-stop shop of information on local battlefields, historic monuments, museums, and other patriotic places of interest around the country. Photo tours of the most visited battlefields in the country will also be available through AOL Local.

In addition to a live online chat with The Civil War filmmaker Ken Burns, AOL Live (AOL Keyword: Live) is also hosting a full schedule of chats throughout the month, which so far include:

-- Tuesday, Sept. 17 -- Chat with author James M. McPherson about his latest book, 'Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam' at 9PM ET.

-- Wednesday, Sept. 18 -- Chat with author Juanita Leisch, author of 'Who Wore What?,' about civilian clothing in the Civil War at 8:30PM ET.

-- Thursday, Sept. 19 -- Chat with Kirk Denkler, former Time-Life Civil War editor at 9PM ET.

-- Monday, Sept. 23 -- Chat with Ken Burns, award-winning filmmaker about his newly remastered PBS series, The Civil War at 7PM ET.

-- Tuesday, Sept. 24 -- Chat with Robert Lee Hodge, hard-core Civil War reenactor featured in Tony Horwitz's book, 'Confederates in the Attic' at 9PM ET.

About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:AOL). Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.