In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum will host a week full of activities to commemorate the year 1862.

Civil War Medicine

June 26, 2012

This year's Civil War Lecture Series will kick off with "Civil War Medicine," presented by Ginny Terpening.  Terpening is the former Executive Director of the Indiana Medical History Museum in Indianapolis.  During her career, she also worked for the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Indiana State Museum.

Click here to sign up for this lecture or call the Museum at 765-362-5769.

The Black Brigade in Cincinnati

June 28, 2012
On Thursday, June 28, Bernie O'Bryan will speak about the Black Brigade and the defense of Cincinnati, the first time African Americans served in an official capacity supporting the Union.  O'Bryan is a Lew Wallace researcher and interpreter.  O'Bryan will also present Lew Wallace in the weekend's Civil War Encampment.  Click here to sign up for this lecture or call the Museum at 765-362-5769.

Civil War Encampment Weekend

June 30-July 1, 2012

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is commemorating the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a lecture series and live encampment that will dynamically illustrate the hardships and triumphs of that era.

Follow the action online!  Visit our Facebook Page for updated information, upcoming programs and photos from this year's Civil War Encampment Weekend!

The scent of campfires and the sounds of Stephen Foster songs will fill the air once again at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum for its annual Civil War Encampment weekend, June 30 and July 1.  The Museum’s partnership with the Mid States Living History Association, Inc. allows visitors a rare chance to dig deeper into the experience of life as one of General Wallace’s rank-and-file soldiers.


Mid States, an Indianapolis-based group comprised of living history interpreters from throughout the Midwest, will present several activities on the Museum grounds over the course of the weekend that offer a greater insight into life as a Civil War soldier or civilian.  In addition to live demonstrations of camp cooking, construction, medical care, music, telegraphy and artillery training, visitors will have the chance to interact with both General Lew Wallace and the Governor of Indiana during that critical time, Oliver Morton.
 

“Our Encampment weekends are always popular,” said Associate Director Erin Gobel.  “It’s an immersive experience that lets visitors really appreciate what General Wallace and his soldiers had to endure during the Civil War, much more so than they could just by reading a book or sitting in history class.”
 

The live activities include “School of the Piece,” an instructional training exercise for cannoneers that demonstrates the degree of textbook and practical training required to function on the field of battle.  Visitors will also be invited to participate in infantry training drills using toy “Woodfield” (wooden) rifles.  Demonstrations in Civil War-era medical care, camp construction and cooking will also be held throughout the weekend.  New this year will be a sharp-shooter display and a ladies’ tea.
 

Visitors are invited to experience the live drama of the Civil War on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville.  For further information, contact the Museum at 765-362-5769 or email egobel@ben-hur.com.