Civil War Love Letters: Tales of Love and Loss
If you’ve ever watched Ken Burns’ documentary “The Civil War,” then it’s likely you remember the poignant letter Major Sullivan Ballou of the Rhode Island Militia penned to his wife Sarah, a week before he was killed at the First Battle of Bull Run. While not all soldiers were as well spoken and eloquent when […]
Visiting the Heart of the Civil War During the “Off Season”
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area is a wonderful destination year-round, but the busy season for most sites is typically classified as spring and summer. That means the “off season” or the shoulder season, as it’s known in the travel industry, is a great time to visit. In fact, there are many advantages […]
Your Guide to Exploring Fall Color in the Heritage Area
Fall has officially arrived in the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Mother Nature is about to put on a show across our beautiful scenic landscapes as the leaves reveal their true shades of crimson, amber and burnt orange. While the most dramatic fall foliage is likely to happen closer to the end of […]
Mother’s Day, Then and Now
You are invited to take in the peace that now characterizes Antietam battlefield while enjoying an outing with your mother on Mother’s Day Weekend. In fact, the experience of women and families in the American Civil War helped give rise to the holiday. Anna Jarvis (1864-1948) founded Mother’s day to recognize and celebrate of the […]
On This Corner: Lincoln and Lee
Bear Witness If you find yourself in downtown Frederick, Maryland, take a detour to the corner of Council and Record Streets. Standing there, you look over City Hall Park, once known as Court Square, one of the most historically rich locations in the city. Imagine a half-century of activity in this spot, starting at the […]
Preserving Industrial History: Mills in the Heart of the Civil War
May is Preservation Month—a great time to explore the industrial legacy left behind on the landscape of the Heart of the Civil War. An abundance of mills once dotted the Maryland countryside, and those that have stood the test of time give us a glimpse of industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Let’s look […]
Cornelia Hancock: a Force unto Herself
Editor’s Note: March is Women’s History Month, a perfect time to learn about the impact that women had on nursing in the Civil War. This post originally appeared on the website of the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum. You’re invited to learn more about Cornelia Hancock at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine […]
The Heart of the Civil War by Rail
While some museums and historic sites close for the winter, train enthusiasts can enjoy the region’s railroad museums all year round. Read up on trains in the Civil War before your next visit to a museum of locomotive history. Editor’s Note: a version of this article originally ran in the Valley Revue magazine. Military strategists […]
Man’s Best Friend in War and Peace: Dogs in the American Civil War
Editor’s Note: In this guest post, military history expert—and owner of two beloved dogs—Tom Frezza of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine highlights canine companions in the Civil War and beyond. When soldiers go to war, they try to bring many facets of home life with them: photos, letters, books, or even a favorite […]
Brewer’s Alley: Frederick’s North Star?
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on the History Shark Productions blog and has been slightly modified. Last week, my family and I took the opportunity to eat lunch with friends in downtown Frederick. It was the grand finale of the string of school snow days made possible by the incomparable superstorm Jonas. We chose […]