Momentum Gathers For The Civil War 150th Anniversary
Congress has yet to act on legislation to create a sesquicentennial commission, but the country is not waiting. States, counties, communities, agencies and private groups are organizing programs and events, creating online offerings, erecting signs, upgrading sites, training volunteers and preparing materials. National groups including the National Park Service, Civil War Preservation Trust, National Endowment for the Humanities and American Association for State and Local History are doing their part. The following overview of state plans that we gathered online is current as of mid-August, including two state commissions created in August. Some states that were involved in the Civil War are not doing anything, and some are endorsing commemorative efforts planned by others. This listing will be on the www.civilwarnews.com Web site where readers can activate the links. Corrections and updates are welcome at mail@civilwarnews.com.
Arkansas
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission recently received a $40,000 grant for its historical marker program. The commission is housed within the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The Sesquicentennial Commission has developed interpretive themes for each year to provide guidance to local governments, historical societies, museums and other organizations. The commission’s goal is: educational, comprehensive and inclusive; that tells the story of the Civil War in Arkansas without making judgments about the actions and motivations of the people who took part in the war; and that stresses the relevance to Arkansawyers today by promoting local observances and acknowledging the impact the Civil War had on modern Arkansas.
Connecticut
The Civil War Planning Committee will launch the state’s commemoration on April 16 and 17, 2011, with a conference on the state’s involvement in the war at Central Connecticut State University.
Delaware
The Delaware Heritage Commission commemoration’s theme is “Ensuring a More Perfect Union. With Liberty and Justice for All.” It will focus on life in Delaware during the war and the contributions of residents on the home front and battlefield.
Georgia The state has not budgeted funds for the sesquicentennial. A new Tri-State Civil War Association has been formed to promote sites and events there and in Alabama and Tennessee. The state has an Georgia Civil War Commission, www.georgiacivilwar.org, and Georgia Historical Society, www.georgiahistory.com The Longstreet Society of Gainesville will begin its Sesquicentennial Seminar Series this year (www.longstreet.org).
Indiana www.in.gov/history/INCivilWar.htm
The Indiana Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee was appointed by the Indiana History Collaborative to encourage commemoration of the sesquicentennial and the war’s impact on the state.
Iowa
The State Historical Society of Iowa has an Iowa Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee that will endorse projects and give permission for use of a logo.
Kentucky history.ky.gov/sub.php?pageid =132§ionid=5
The Kentucky Historical Society received a $1,050,000 grant through federal transportation enhancement funds to help Kentucky commemorate the Civil War 150th. The society is the administrative agency for the Kentucky Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. The commemorative theme is “Discovering Together: Kentucky’s Civil War Landscapes.”
Maine
The governor created a Maine Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee in 2009 and a state Web site that provides information about the state’s role in the war. It will be added to during the commemoration.
Michigan
Last year the governor gave the Michigan Historical Commission responsibility for the 150th commemoration. The commission has a sesquicentennial committee that developed a work plan covering grassroots involvement, events and projects, education, heritage tourism, marketing and funding.
Mississippi No address found
A Mississippi Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission was appointed by the governor, but not funded, and met once. Mississippi State University has offered office space to house an executive director when one is named. Mississippi has some 40 Civil War Discovery Trail sites, some of which will make their own plans. The City of Vicksburg is matching $150,000 with a $150,000 federal Preserve America grant to develop its Civil War events.
Missouri governor.mo.gov/boards/show/MCWS
The governor appointed the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission this year to increase awareness and understanding of the state’s role. Among the important events is the anniversary of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation (www.wilsonscreek.com) will commemorate the 150th anniversary Aug. 12-14, 2011.
North Carolina www.nccivilwar150.com/default.html
The North Carolina Office of Archives and History, part of the Department of Cultural Resources, started working in 2006 to guide and promote agency-sponsored observances since the state did not authorize and fund a 150th commission. The themes are “Freedom, Sacrifice and Memory,” each of which will be a panel topic every other year starting in 2011. Thirteen state historic sites plan programs.
New Jersey www.njcivilwar150.org/index.asp
The New Jersey Civil War 150 Committee is sponsored by the statewide non-profit New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association. It recently published its first commemorative book, New Jersey Goes to War: Biographies of 150 New Jerseyans Caught Up in the Struggle of the Civil War, including Soldiers, Civilians, Men, Women, Heroes, Scoundrels – and a Heroic Horse by Joseph A. Bilby.
New York
New York may be in the process of creating a New York State Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemoration Commission. Legislation passed the Assembly once and died in the Senate. It went to the Assembly again and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee in May.
Ohio
The state’s Civil War 150 Advisory Committee, under the guidance of the Ohio Historical Society, will oversee programs and activities at the state and local levels.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania will commemorate the anniversary with a traveling exhibit, special events and a content-rich Web site. The Pennsylvania Civil War Road Show, a traveling museum in a 53-foot trailer, will deliver interactive exhibits and unique programming to all 67 counties and encourage local residents and groups to share stories and artifacts.
South Carolina sc150civilwar.palmettohistory.org
The South Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Board was created three years ago. The Web site above has links to Civil War-related events, places and exhibits, historical events, ordinance of secession and other documents and a bibliography.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and the state Department of Tourist Development launched the Web site above to promote statewide events. It consists of five main sections, with the history area offering a basic primer about the war in Tennessee and its impact on Tennesseans. Other sections are a timeline, the state’s Civil War Trail, events and exhibits and teaching tools. The Inaugural Sesquicentennial Signature Event, “The Coming of the Civil War,” will be Nov. 12-13 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Jackson Hall. For information, visit www.tnvacation.com/civil-war/events
Texas Despite local efforts to get the governor and Texas Historical Commission to act on the sesquicentennial nothing has been done. The Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Army of the Trans Mississippi, Sons of Confederate Veterans will host “The Road to Secession,” an academic symposium and living history event, at Camp Gilmont in northeast Upshur County in December. School children from the Ark-La-Tex region will be invited on Dec. 2 and 3. The general public is invited Dec. 4 and 5. For information e-mail johnyreb43@yahoo.com.
Vermont The governor created a 14-member state Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission in August. It will coordinate, review and promote programs and activities throughout the state relating to the American Civil War. The Vermont Historical Society (www.vermonthistory.org) has initiated statewide planning with educational institutions, state agencies and other nonprofit organizations.
Virginia
The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission has a $2 million annual budget and a comprehensive Web site that incorporates commission-sponsored activities under guidance from historian James I. Robertson Jr. These include annual statewide conferences, an educational video program and events by local sesquicentennial committees. The state’s effort is to develop a greater understanding of the cause, impact and aftermath of the war based on the theme “Understanding Our Past, Embracing Our Future.” The second of the commission’s 2009-2115 Signature Conferences will be Sept. 24 at Norfolk State University. its theme is
West Virginia (304) 558-0220
The legislation to establish the West Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission in 2009 included $100,000 in funds. Its charge is to promote events and increase visits to state sites, as well as expand preservation, research and education programs. West Virginia’s statehood anniversary in 2013 will be a major celebration. The West Virginia Civil War Task Force is a volunteer group of people with various Civil War connections sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Tourism (wvtraditions.wvcommerce.org)
Wisconsin
In mid-August historian and author Lance Herdegen was named Chairman of the Wisconsin Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum, under the direction of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, formed the commission to honor the legacy, service and sacrifice of Wisconsin’s citizen-soldiers. In the coming months, additional positions on the commission will be filled. A Web site with an event schedule and links to participating institutions will also be developed. Herdegen’s most recent book, Those Damned Black Hats: The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign (Savas Beatie LLC), won The Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Award for Operational / Battle History, 2008.
Other American Association for State and Local History
Civil War Preservation Trust www.civilwar.org/150th-anniversary/
Civil War Traveler www.civilwartraveler.com/CivilWar150.html
National Park Service
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