Everyone here is so excited for Saturday’s opening of the Discovering the Civil War exhibit in the museum! Archivists, employees and volunteers from The Henry Ford and the National Archives are all putting the finishing touches on what is sure to be an amazing exhibit. Ready for a behind-the-scenes look?

Discovering the Civil War is unlike any exhibit we have had before for many reasons, but especially because of its use of social media and guest involvement. Along with audio features, it has a live streaming Twitter feed that allows everyone to comment on what they saw and give feedback at the end of the exhibit via Tweet.

The exhibit also ties into Michigan efforts in the war in many areas including the cannon from the Loomis Battery Association, which fought for the Union during the war under Colonel Cyrus O. Loomis from Michigan. The cannon was in federal service from 1861 to 1865 and the battery is famous for its crucial involvement in the battle in Perryville, Kentucky.

The exhibit also focuses on many unknown stories of the Civil War. Sarah Emma Edmonds Seelye, under the alias of Frank Thompson, fought for the Union states and was injured in battle; after returning home to her role as a wife and mother, she applied for a pension for her efforts – and after much difficulty, finally succeeded in receiving her soldier’s pension of $12 per month. (Make sure to check out this earlier blog post to learn more about women’s many roles to aid Civil War efforts.)

Just outside of the exhibit, we are also busy establishing a special Civil War-themed store that features interesting and authentic gifts ranging from books and pen sets to bonnets and dress clothes for children.

We can’t wait to see your reaction to this exciting exhibit; it runs until September 5th and we’ll have many lectures and special events along the way – including the original Emancipation Proclamation, which will travel to the museum all the way from Washington, D.C. and will be on public display June 20-22.

What are you looking forward to seeing in the exhibit?