National Civil War Museum

The National Civil War Museum is a history museum that preserves the material culture relevant to the American Civil War of 1861–1865, and the aftermath of the war.

It also provides sources of information related to Civil War Veterans’ service organizations, including the Grand Army of the Republic, United Confederate Veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy to 1920.

The museum also serves as the National Headquarters for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the successor to the Grand Army of the Republic.

The museum’s exhibits are designed to tell:

“the entire story of the American Civil War … without bias to the Union or Confederate causes.”

The exhibition covers the period from 1850 to 1876, with its major focus on the Civil War years of 1861 to 1865.

The Museum’s collection includes over 24,000 artifacts, photographs, documents, manuscripts, and other printed matter. Three-dimensional artifacts collection comprises of about 3,500 items.

The museum’s critical galleries include:

A House Divided, 1850–1860, examines the events leading up to the Civil War
American Slavery
First Shots, April 1861, Fort Sumter
Weapons and Equipment Artifacts
Campaigns and Battles
Gettysburg, 1863, casualties of nearly 50,000 men made it the largest battle ever on North American soil
Lincoln: War & Remembrance, Abraham Lincoln, and veterans’ roles after the war

Highlights of the National Civil War Museum

Chains, iron shackles, and bracelets from the slave trade, including a slave collar
The portable writing kit of General Winfield Scott
Major General George McClellan’s saddle, used when he was General-In-Chief of the Union army
A sword belt presented to General Ulysses S. Grant to commemorate the capture of Vicksburg
Doeskin riding gauntlets belonging to Lee
Lee’s Bible, inscribed in his hand, used for almost 20 years
The last battle map used by General Robert E. Lee during the Appomattox campaign
Various rifles, revolvers, officer’s swords, and munitions later discovered on battlefields
A wooden saddle and tack box used by Grant
Memorabilia from Civil War veterans reunions
A collection of memorabilia from Lincoln’s assassination
A Lincoln administration china plate and a lantern from Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois