Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum Announced New Location

Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum's New Location

After 63 years in our current building, we are excited to announce that the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum, the only museum in the Philadelphia area solely dedicated to the remembrance of the history of the Civil War, has a new historic home at 8110 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.

We are very pleased to have been able to relocate to another certified historic building in a far more accessible area of the city. 

To accomplish the immense task of moving the museum to our new location we will need your assistance and financial support

Packing and moving will be a monumental task over the next few months which will require the help of many.  If you can give some time as a volunteer to assist with the move, please contact the Museum by replying to this message:  garmuslib1866@gmail.com

The cost of archival packing and storage materials plus the additional cost of the actual move are quite extensive.  We require certified archival materials to assure that our historic collection is properly protected.  Please consider donating to the museum to support our efforts as we begin the move to our new location.

As a 503(C)3 non-profit organization, all donations payable to the “GAR Museum” are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.  Donations should continue to be sent to our current address, GAR Civil War Museum, 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124.

As of July 2, the Museum will be closed.  The Archive and Library will be open for research by appointment only.  We look forward to opening in the fall.

We invite you to become a part of the next chapter of the Museum's history. 

ABT Presents Live Video from Gettysburg July 1-3

July 1  is the start of the Trust’s Gettysburg 158th anniversary video extravaganza!

We'll be live Thursday, July 1 through Saturday, July 3, sharing numerous facets of American history at the 158th Battle of Gettysburg anniversary commemoration through the eyes of the soldiers and in their footsteps.

Join us on Facebook and Youtube from the battlefield through a proliferation of videos, short and long with special guests from the Gettysburg Foundation, the Adams County Historical Society, Ancestry, and the Gettysburg National Military Park.

 Whether you are a Gettysburg novice or a full-on Civil War nerd, expect to learn some new things, and see places both familiar and off the beaten path.

 We hope you can tune in!

 Sincerely,
Garry Adelman
Chief Historian
American Battlefield Trust

Preserving an Arm and a Leg (Prosthetic)

An Arm and a Leg Campaign - Artifact Restoration Project

Unlike you and I, artifacts don’t improve with age. One of the most important stories we tell is that of the veterans’ experience after the guns fell silent. Tens of thousands returned home after losing limbs in the Civil War. This terrible need forced innovation and new technologies in prosthetics. Artificial limbs were in great demand and many of the advancements from this great conflict remain with us to this day.

The collection of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine includes several prosthetics from the period – including arms and legs. The 2021 mid-year appeal is targeted to restore and preserve three of these artifacts; two Palmer style artificial legs and one artificial arm known as the “Lincoln Arm.” The Lincoln Arm was developed by a former agent of the Underground Railroad and was the army’s choice for veterans well into World War I.

 We aren’t asking for an arm and a leg – we are asking for contributions toward our goal of $12,500 to save an arm and two legs. We’ve consulted with the National Museum of Health and Medicine for an environmental and condition report and the costs associated with each artifact is approximately $3,000. The remaining monies raised will be directed toward mounts and materials to exhibit and store them. Lastly, our plan is to have them photographed to be seen online as well. In this way we can preserve them for future generations and guarantee in-person and online visitors will have access to these important items.

Even a small donation will help us to restore these important pieces of medical history.

 As a registered 501(c)3 non-profit your gift is tax deductible, and you will receive a letter of gratitude acknowledging your generous donation.

 We couldn’t do this without you. 

Click Here To Give Today

 National Museum of Civil War Medicine | 301-695-1864 | 48 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701  www.civilwarmed.org

Join the Civil War Trust LIVE at Gettysburg

You're invited to the Trust’s Gettysburg 158th anniversary video extravaganza this July 1-3! This year with a twist: a focus on the soldiers who fought in the battle.

  Experience numerous facets of American history at the 158th Battle of Gettysburg anniversary commemoration through the eyes of the soldiers and in their footsteps with the American Battlefield Trust and Ancestry/Fold3.

  We will be online through all three days of the anniversary to help you share—virtually—in this meaningful event! Please, let me explain with this quick video...

  Join us on Facebook and Youtube from the battlefield through a proliferation of videos, short and long with special guests from the Gettysburg Foundation, the Adams County Historical Society, and, of course, the Gettysburg National Military Park.

  Ancestry is working hard to unearth little-known Gettysburg stories and a good friend is planning to show identified artifacts from the battle that are in some cases returning to the battlefield place for the first time since the battle! 

Whether you are a Gettysburg novice or a full-on Civil War nerd, expect to learn some new things, and see places both familiar and off the beaten path. We promise you plenty of cool experiences, great energy, and lots of solid history!

Sincerely
Garry Adelman
Chief Historian
American Battlefield Trust

The Black Influence – Series 3 – Gettysburg’s Underground Railroad

The Gettysburg Connection (LINK)
June 12, 2021 by Jenine Weaver

Black History in Adams County cannot be complete without paying respect to the escaped slaves that followed the Underground Railroad (UGRR) through Adams County.

The National Park Service describes the UGRR by saying:

“Beginning in the 17th century and continuing through the mid-19th century in the United States, enslaved African Americans resisted bondage to gain their freedom through acts of self-emancipation. The individuals who sought this freedom from enslavement, known as freedom seekers, and those who assisted along the way, united together to become what is known as the Underground Railroad.” Underground Railroad (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY CLICK HERE

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMING ON PCN

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMING ON PCN Civil war historians and enthusiasts meet on America’s most famous battlefield every year to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fought there in July of 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest fight to ever take place on American soil, is explained to visitors and PCN viewers by Gettysburg National Military Park Rangers (GNMP) and licensed battlefield guides from the National Park Service like Rangers Troy Harman and Matt Atkinson. This year's coverage also includes a LIVE Call-In Program with guests from the Confederation of Union Generals (COUG) portraying historical figures of the time, discussions and roundtables from the Civil War Institute, and interviews with various Gettysburg experts. Watch our Gettysburg anniversary programming from July 1-4. For program times, please visit PCNTV.com/gettysburg.

A Summer of Restoration for the Kirkland Monument at Fredericksburg Battlefield

From The Emerging Civil War…

Saving History Saturday

The Sergeant Kirkland Monument within the boundaries of Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Park and near the Sunken Road and Marye’s Heights is an iconic symbol. Depicting the Confederate sergeant giving water to a wounded Union soldier, it’s a powerful reminder of both the incident in Fredericksburg’s battle history and of the compassion that was shown by some in the aftermath of combat.

This summer the Kirkland Monument is undergoing planned restoration by the National Park Service. So, if you happen to visit and see the dismantled statue, it’s actually good news. The base and pedestal is getting reinforced and the sculpture is getting cleaned and preserved. Yes, it’s all going to be put back together!

Here is a close up of the new interpretive panel explaining the process and preservation goals:

Gettysburg NMP Announces Summer Programming to Resume

2021 Summer and Battle Anniversary Ranger Programs Announced

    Gettysburg, Pa. (June 9, 2021)— Gettysburg National Military Park is pleased to announce Ranger walks, talks, and hikes will resume beginning Saturday, June 12. These interpretive programs will offer visitors a chance to learn about the people and places that made history during the Battle of Gettysburg. Hike the fields of Pickett’s Charge, explore the rocky summit of Little Round Top, reflect on the words of the Gettysburg Address, and much more. There are a host of new and exciting offerings that will appeal to first time and repeat visitors alike.  

  Additionally, Gettysburg National Military Park will commemorate the 158th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg with special in-person programming and interpretive experiences throughout the three-day battle anniversary from July 1-3, 2021. These programs include special talks that provide an overview of key battlefield moments, an in-depth Battle Walk that will explore Pickett’s Charge, the climactic moment of the battle, and special evening programs at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. Additionally, park staff will provide unique and behind the scenes access to some of the iconic buildings on the battlefield landscape.

“After a year of connecting with visitors virtually, we’re excited to be back out on the battlefield. The summer season, and especially the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, is a special time for our staff and our visitors. To be able to share the inspiring, tragic, and relevant stories of the battle and its aftermath.  Our professional Park Rangers make the past come to life on this hallowed ground,” said Superintendent Steven Sims.

Please Note: Our special July 1-3 Battle Anniversary program schedule will replace the regularly scheduled summer program schedule from July 1-3. All regularly scheduled summer programs resume on July 4. The schedule is subject to change and is weather dependent. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent, and sturdy footwear are highly recommended. All programs are free of charge. 

  The full Summer schedule can be found on our website at https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/interpretation.htm.

The full July 1-3 Battle Anniversary schedule can be found on our website at https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/battle-anniversary-158.htm. 

  All programs will be conducted consistent with CDC recommendations. People who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces. Masks are required for everyone on all forms of public transportation. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus. 

  Gettysburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves and protects the resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg, the Gettysburg National Cemetery, and provides an understanding of the events that occurred there within the context of American history. For a complete listing of all of the free summer ranger programs, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/gett for additional information. 

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Opens Renovated Museum And Visitor Center

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Opens Renovated Museum And Visitor Center
from National Parks Traveler
By NPT Staff - May 31st, 2021

An expanded museum and redesigned visitors center has opened at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in Missouri after 18 months of renovations.

The $3.5 million project added roughly 1,800 square feet to the park's museum, and also redesigned the bookstore, information desk and bathrooms, added curatorial storage and employee workspaces, and installed a new HVAC system to ensure the long-term preservation of museum artifacts and visitor comfort.

“It is my honor to bring this project to a successful conclusion and welcome visitors, near and far, to once again learn more about this significant historical event and experience the new exhibits,” Wilson’s Creek Superintendent Sarah Cunningham said during Friday's opening celebration. “We could not have accomplished this substantial improvement to the visitor experience and protection of the collection without the strong partnership of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, the work of many dedicated employees and volunteers, and the support of the National Park Foundation.

The renovation added approximately 1,800 square feet of museum exhibit space, which enables visitors to view the park’s extensive collection of Civil War artifacts. It features the original “Lyon bed,” where the body of Union General Nathaniel Lyon was laid after his death during the battle of Wilson’s Creek.

Visitors will also see new displays of the park’s impressive collection of edged weapons and firearms, including a rare Model 1860 Henry repeating rifle, recently donated to the park by the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation. The museum provides for several interactive and accessible audio-visual displays and virtual displays, making it possible for people to view historic weapons demonstrations and digitally view fragile artifacts and other items in storage.

All the renovations, including expansion of the museum, were kept within the existing footprint of the Visitor Center complex. The John K. and Ruth Hulston Civil War Research Library also has reopened to the public.

“Our Foundation is pleased to have played a significant role in the completion of the visitor center renovation project by providing a portion of the funding, purchasing important artifacts, and contributing to the funding of state-of-the-art video interpretations," said Garin Ferguson, president of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation. "The new museum exhibits will enhance the experience of more than 200,000 visitors who come to Wilson’s Creek each year. We are confident that this project exemplifies our mission of preserving and protecting Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.”

Funding for the project included $500,000 from the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation that was matched with $500,000 in federal funding authorized and appropriated for the National Park Foundation under the National Park Service Centennial Act.

Gettysburg College CWI Summer Conference Goes Virtual

Gettysburg College Civil War Institute

Registration is now OPEN for the June 11-June 13 virtual conference!

Note: Due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Federal, state, and college regulations about large gatherings, we have unfortunately made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s originally slated conference. There will be no in-person conference this year. All previously registered attendees will receive a full refund of their deposits.

2021 Conference

While we realize that a virtual conference event can never replicate the experience of in-person lectures, small group discussions, and battlefield excursions, it remains a high priority for us to provide quality programming for our loyal attendees and to allow for continued engagement between the CWI and the general public. Thus, we will be hosting a virtual event running from Friday, June 11 to Sunday, June 13. This event will feature interactive talks, roundtable discussions, and interviews with scholars, as well as pre-recorded interpretive battlefield experiences, which will be followed-up by live Q&A sessions with the guides. Attendees will be able to engage with the scholars and guides through the assigned event link which will enable them to submit questions and comments during the livestreams.

This virtual event is free of charge; however pre-registration is required, and donations to our new student experience fund are greatly appreciated. This fund is devoted to providing new professional opportunities for Gettysburg College students in the field of battlefield preservation and historical preservation. The fund will also support the expansion of the CWI’s high school scholarship program, which enables gifted high school students from around the country—and across the globe—to attend the CWI’s annual summer conference at minimal cost.

Questions

Please contact civilwar@gettysburg.edu or call Heather Miller at 717-337-6590.