'Civil War Comes Alive' for Two Museums

“Here was the greatest and most moving chapter in American history, a blending of meanness and greatness, an ending and a beginning. It came out of what men were, but it did not go as men had planned.” 
 
Perhaps there is no better way to open Civil War Comes Alive, the inaugural event between the Booth Western Art Museum and the Bartow History Museum, than with those words from The Coming Fury echoing in our minds.
 
The attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, by the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, SC, is considered the opening engagement of the American Civil War.  Booth Museum Executive Director Seth Hopkins said the musuems wanted to create an event that would coincide with the 150th year anniversary of the start of the Civil War and continue annually until the 150th anniversary of its end.
 
Saturday the grounds of the Booth Western Art Museum and the Bartow History Museum will come alive with authentic music, historically accurate encampments for both Union and Confederate soldiers, live cannon firings, a recitation of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln and much more.  The day begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. 
 
Around the grounds, visitors can visit ongoing demonstrations of Civil War era blacksmithing activities, a typical field hospital, examples of signaling, an infantry camp and a cavalry camp, all throughout the day.
 
At the bottom of every hour, artillery demonstrations will take place on the north lawn of the Booth, starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. 
 
In conjunction with the cannon firings at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Abraham Lincoln will deliver his Gettysburg Address.
 
And no peek into the Civil War days would be complete without bringing the instruments and music of the time to life with the 8th Regiment Band out of Rome.  The 14-member band performs music from both sides of the Civil War in replica blue and gray uniforms with appropriate dialogue and action. Concerts will take place on the Booth's festival grounds at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
 
Bartow History Museum Director Trey Gaines said visitors to Civil War Comes Alive will have access to the interiors of both museums as well the grounds for the price of admission to the event, which runs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for students and $3 for children ages 12 and under. He quickly added that members of either museum will get in free as will any member of the military with active ID. 

is an exhibit examining a collection of letters written by a local Bartow family during the war. The letters on display at the history museum reveal battle news, social and political feelings of the time, and the emotions of war.

“We [also] want to encourage visitors to see the Mort Kunstler Civil War art exhibit at the Booth and to swing by our lobby and shop inside the Bartow History Museum for Civil War-related books and gifts,” Gaines said.

Though the plans are for an annual event commemorating the Civil War, much like the event in history itself, after five years, in conjunction with the end of hostilities, so, too, will Civil War Comes Alive end.  Planners with the Booth Museum and the History Museum both hope patrons realize they are not only going to be part of something special, but also short lived. 

For more information about Civil War Comes Alive, visit the Booth Western Art Museum’s website at www.boothmuseum.org or the Bartow History Museum’s website at www.bartowhistorymuseum.org. Both museums also have Facebook pages and encourage all their visitors to post pictures and comments of their adventures.