Civil War 150 on the Trails of History, Summer 2011

But first, the results of National History Day 2011 are in. The national contest concluded last week in College Park, Maryland, and a Pennsylvania student, Gabe Schroeder of St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, won first place in the Senior Paper category. Eight other Pennsylvania entries made it to the final round and you can find the complete results here. Congratulations to all of the Commonwealth’s history competitors (results of the state contest are here), their teachers, and their families—you rock!

As the Pennsylvania Civil War Road Show continues its tour around the state (you can follow on Facebook here) and with summer officially solsticed, it seems like a good time to see what else is happening on the Trails of History during the next couple of months, Civil War-wise. (I think that free milkshake from the Penn Ag Industries Assn. has affected my brain. Anyway.)

PHMC/Eckley Miners' Village

On August 20-21, Eckley Miners’ Village will present its “Living History/Civil War Weekend.” There will be encampments, reenactors and other living history programs portraying aspects of daily life in an anthracite patch town in the 1860s.

At “Civil War Day 1863” at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum on July 9, military and civilian reenactors will bring the crossroads to life and show the impact of the war on rural communities throughout Pennsylvania.

Old Economy Village’s July 16 “Civil War Day” will feature military encampments, medical demonstrations, military food preparation, civilian activities, and a band playing 19th-century music.

Two upcoming lectures at the Pennsylvania Military Museum will shed light on the history of the Civil War in Pennsylvania. On July 5, the Central PA Civil War Roundtable presents 2nd US Cavalry reenactor Charlie Doutt and his program, “Hoofbeats and Cold Steel, A Night with the Cavalry.” As part of the Friends of PMM Speaker Series on July 27, Dr. Robert Sandow, Assoc. Prof. of History at Lock Haven University, will present “Deserter Country: Civil War Opposition in Pennsylvania” (this talk is also part of PA Humanities Council’s “Humanities on the Road” program).

Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County

The Somerset Historical Center recently opened a new temporary exhibit, “The Civil War in Somerset County,” which features a variety of artifacts from around the county. They also organized a fashion show of civilian and military styles from the Civil War era (see photo above) and will host a visit from the Road Show, August 26-28.

We’ll do another update in a couple of months. Meanwhile, feel free to post a comment with info on Civil War-related events or programs you’d like to share.