The permanent exhibit in the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier has earned international recognition as one of America's most innovative and effective museum experiences. The vast majority of Southerners lived in rural areas before the Civil War. This interactive program uses Tudor Hall, our 1812 plantation home and grounds, to explore the lifestyles of Southerners during the mid-19th century and how that lifestyle changed during the Civil War.
Students learn how the Civil War affected civilians in a profound way.
This new program explores the experience of African-Americans whose lives before and during the Civil War were defined by the institution of slavery. Various aspects of life such as work, clothing, housing, music and religion illustrate how slaves learned to cope with their condition of servitude to create a unique and vital culture. Park educators explore the role slavery played in causing the Civil War and the impact of the war on African-Americans. Some three million Americans served in uniform during the Civil War. This highly-popular program utilizes costumed interpreters who explain the experiences of soldiers in combat and in camp.