Civil War events in Delaware
Delaware Public Archives, Dover
Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m. “A Fragmented Nation, A Divided State: The Delaware Home Front.” Lecture by Steve Newton: From vigilante violence to patriotic demonstrations, the First State represented a microcosm of the American nation during the Civil War (archives.delaware.gov, 744-5047).
Nov. 5, 10:30 a.m. “From the Crater to a Tree Near Smyrna: The Tragic Odyssey of Obie Evans and other African-Americans in Civil-War Delaware.” Lecture by Dr. Steve Newton (archives.delaware.gov, 744-5047).
First State Heritage Park, Dover
Thru Dec. 13 “The Civil War: Five Delaware Soldiers’ Stories,” Welcome Center and Galleries. Exhibit on the wartime stories of five of the more than 13,000 Delawareans who fought in the Civil War, with Civil War-related items from the state’s collections (destateparks.com/park/first-state-heritage, 744-5055).
Fort Delaware, Delaware City
Thru Labor Day, Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fort Delaware Tours. Catch the boat to Pea Patch Island where there are scheduled events throughout the day, including guided tours by costumed interpreters, living history programs, musketry demonstrations and noontime cannon firing.
July 9-10 P.O.W. Weekend: “Guests of the Government.” Living history groups partner with interpretive staff. Learn about ordinary citizens who were suspected of disloyalty and arrested and imprisoned (destateparks.com/park/fort-delaware, 834-7941).
July 29, Aug. 27, Sept. 10, Sept. 17 “Appetite for Apparitions.” Buffet dinner on mainland at Crabby Dick’s combined with candlelight ghost tour of Fort Delaware (destateparks.com/park/fort-delaware, 834-7941).
Aug. 13-14 P.O.W. Weekend at Fort Delaware: “Taking Up Arms.” Living history groups partner with interpretive staff. Check out the firepower at Fort Delaware and take part in a gun drill (destateparks.com/park/fort-delaware, 834-7941)
Hagley Museum, Wilmington
Thru July 22, 2012 Exhibit, “An Oath of Allegiance to the Republic: the du Ponts and the Civil War” (hagley.org, 658-2400).
July 12, 17, 1-4 p.m. Creek Kids Program, “Gunpowder and the Civil War.” Family-oriented tours focusing on Hagley’s communities during the Civil War. Includes games, food and make-and-take crafts (hagley.org, 658-2400).
Sept. 29, 7 p.m. Civil War Education Series, “The Libby Prison Minstrels: A Civil War Music Concert.” Performed by a five-piece band modeled after a real group of Union prisoners who performed in the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, Va., during the Civil War. Presented in the Soda House (hagley.org, 658-2400).
Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Civil War Education Series, “Quaker Soldier: The Civil War Experience of Henry Gawthrop of the 4th Delaware.” Lecture by Civil War historian Justin Carisio. Presented in Hagley Library (hagley.org, 658-2400).
Dec. 1, 7 p.m. Civil War Education Series, “Christmas Past.” Speaker Jane Peters Estes explores the origins of many of our secular holiday traditions, highlighting Christmas customs observed during the Civil War. Presented in Hagley Library (hagley.org, 658-2400).
Historic New Castle
Sat. and Sun. thru Dec. 31, 1-4 p.m. “The Civil War in New Castle on the Delaware— A Story of Kinship, Conflict and Politics, 1861-1865,” Old Library Museum. Exhibit on the lives of New Castle’s soldiers, their families and other residents during this tumultuous time in Delaware (newcastlehistory.org, 322-2794).
Sept. 17 “A Child’s Day in the 1860s,” New Castle Green. Family-fun day focusing on a child’s life during the decade of the Civil War (newcastlehistory.org, 322-2794).
Oct. 1-Nov. 13 “New Castle in Mourning,” Old Library Museum. Exhibit on mourning practices during the Civil War (newcastlehistory.org, 322-2794).
Oct. 1-Dec. 31 “Civil War Era Quilts, Coverlets and Medallions,” New Castle Library, lower level. Exhibit features reproductions of quilts from the era 1830-1880 (nccdelib.org/newcastle, 328-1995).
Nov. 26-December 30 “A Civil War Christmas,” Old Library Museum. Exhibit on the celebration and icons of the holiday during the Victorian period (newcastlehistory.org, 322-2794).
Milton Historical Society
July 20, 7 p.m. Civil War conversations with Kevin Kelly “…in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights…” Lecture focuses on First Battle of Bull Run and impact of war on people and governments (historicmilton.org, 684-1010).
Oct. 19, 7 p.m. Civil War conversations with Kevin Kelly “…the picklocks of biographers…” Meet the men and women of the Civil War through anecdote and biography, in literary accounts and artistic images (historicmilton.org, 684-1010).