The Missouri Civil War Museum (MCWM) at the Jefferson Barracks Historic Site just received a collection of original Civil War letters and envelopes. They were sent to the museum by a donor in Paris, France. The donor's family had ancestors living in Missouri, Iowa, and Arkansas during the Civil War. There are Missouri and Iowa postmarks clearly visible on the envelopes. The MCWM has been collecting artifacts for the past 10 years in preparation for opening the museum. The MCWM has saved hundreds of artifacts from leaving the state and brought dozens of others back home to Missouri. The museum has a collection of thousands of artifacts and is projected to open in late 2012.