Voices of the Civial War: Evidence and Artifacts

Introduction to the Exhibition

One hundred and fifty years ago, the American nation was embroiled in a four-year conflict that changed the country. By the end of the Civil War, over 620,000 Americans, more than 2% of the population, had died of wounds or disease.

In our national memory, this devastation remains just as relevant today as it was then. The Civil War defined us as Americans and continues to influence us as a country.

Every year, hundreds of books and articles are published, making the Civil War the most written-about event in American history. VOICES OF THE CIVIL WAR brings to life the voices of this monumental conflict. These voices teach us about slavery and freedom; about a nation’s union and disunion; about families torn apart both by death and by allegiance; and about a country forged by the crucible of war.