Campaign for the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum & Library

The CWRT of Eastern PA has just donated $500 to the GAR Civil War Museum & Library. We encourage you to consider joined as an individual to help support this Gem of our history.

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The mission of the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum & Library is to preserve the heritage and history of the Civil War era through the presentation of historical programs, forums and exhibitions designed to promote a better understanding of American history.

Visit the website of the GAR Museum

During the 19th century the veterans organized over twenty Posts in the City of Philadelphia. The largest Post hall was the memorial Hall established by Post 2 at 667 N. 12th Street.  The Post 2 Hall was a magnificent structure composed on multiple meeting rooms, a grand hall, and an extensive collection of artifacts, relics, photographs and memorabilia.

In the mid 1960's the Post 2 Hall was closed and is no longer standing.  Several members of the Sons of Union Veterans were able to bring a portion of the vast collection to the Ruan House, the 1796 home of physician Dr. John Ruan that is now the home of the G. A. R. Museum & Library.

In the mid-1980's, Margaret and Elmer "Bud" Atkinson of Philadelphia had a vision of creating a Civil War museum to honor and remember the veterans.  The museum then opened for its first visitors in 1985.  Since that date, the museum has hosted thousands of visitors and presented historical programs and speakers.

 TODAY WE ARE THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA  DEDICATED TO THE CIVIL WAR.  WE ARE ALSO A 501(c)3 NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

CIVIL WAR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

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The Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library is currently the only museum in this area that is solely dedicated to preserving the history and telling the story of the Civil War. 

The museum’s holdings were formed from the historic relics, artifacts, documents and photographs from the Memorial Hall collection of Philadelphia’s Post 2 of the Grand Army of the Republic.   The collection is recognized for its historical significance and features numerous relics of singular historical importance.

Our home in the 1796 Georgian mansion of Dr. John Ruan is in need of extensive and expensive repairs. The number of visitors and volunteers continues to decline due to our remote location that has very limited off-street parking.   Additionally, due to many donations of museum items and documents by concerned citizens, our collections have outgrown the space that we have. 

In order to preserve the collection and the future of the museum, it is critical that we find a new home.  To accomplish this, we need to create an endowment that will help finance our relocation.  The very existence of the Museum and public accessibility to the collection is at stake. 

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We need to take action now so that the Museum's future will be secure.  Your contribution will help maintain the legacy that has been handed down to us from those veterans who gave their last full measure of devotion to save the country. Don't let their history be forgotten and their memorabilia disappear.

 

Our campaign goal is to raise $500,000 in the next 6 months. Please help us save the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum.   The museum is a non-profit organization under the Federal income tax section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

 

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________  

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 E-mail: _______________________________________________

 DONATION: _____________________      (Payable to the GAR Museum)

Please mail your donation to the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum, 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA  19124

In grateful appreciation,

The GAR Civil War Museum & Library Board of Directors

https://garmuslib.org/