History
From the war-weary letter Colonel Joshua Chamberlain wrote to his wife from the Antietam battlefield to Howard Terpning’s artistic interpretation of a Native American grandfather sharing wisdom with his grandchildren, these collections will give you the chance to appreciate the unthinkable sacrifices of the American soul and the transformation of the American conscience during the last half of the 19th century.
Through our mission, we wish to preserve and interpret as fully as possible the history of the American Civil War and the people involved – North and South, men and women, children and adults, leaders and common citizens; and through the Museum’s Western Art collection preserve and interpret art which depicts either the historic or modern American West. Staff and volunteers are dedicated to the visitor experience and committed to excellence in every aspect of its educational programs and collections management. To this end, we aim to serve a diverse public through a dynamic, innovative, and welcoming facility.
The museum is divided into two distinct exhibit areas. The Civil War Gallery is an interactive experience designed to give the visitor a humanistic overview of the Civil War, including issues, causes, battles, leaders, plight of the common soldier, the home front, and the aftermath. There are currently more than 15,000 items in the Civil War collection.
The Western Art Gallery features two- and three-dimensional works of art depicting many aspects of the historical and contemporary Western experience including cowboys, Indians, settlers, and pioneers. There are more than 250 works in the Western Art collection.