American Civil War 1861 – 1865
There is more to the Civil War
Exploring the causes, course, and consequences of the war that remade America.
Included with museum admission!
Take a guided tour of the former Tredegar Ironworks site with our historians! Every Saturday & Sunday at 11am and 3pm. Included with museum admission
Plan Your Visit
ACWM has sites in Richmond, VA at Tredegar and The White House of the Confederacy, and in Appomattox, VA. Open daily from 10am – 5pm, find yourself in history at the American Civil War Museum!
Virtual Program!
After the brutal battles of Franklin and Nashville in late 1864, Union forces expected Mobile’s Confederate defenders to retreat without much resistance. But they were wrong. Despite being outnumbered, 33-year-old Brig. Gen. Randall Lee Gibson led a determined and skillful defense that shocked his Union adversaries.
Join Civil War historian and author Paul Brueske as he explores the dramatic siege and battle of Mobile, Alabama, in 1865. Discover the tactics, leadership, and resilience that defined this final stand on the rugged bluffs of Mobile Bay’s eastern shore.
Paul Brueske, a lifelong Gulf Coast resident, is the founder of the Mobile Area Civil War Round Table and author of The Last Siege: The Mobile Campaign, Alabama 1865. He regularly lectures on Gulf Coast Civil War history and brings deep insight into this often-overlooked chapter of the war.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
The ACWM YouTube Channel features videos from our previous programs, lectures from guest speakers, educational videos, & so much more! Check it out and subscribe!
Spring Lecture Series
This lecture examines General McClellan’s reputation as a skilled organizer but hesitant commander, leading to his clash with President Lincoln. It will explore how their political rivalry shaped the course of the war. Supporters, critics, and the lasting debate over McClellan’s legacy will all be discussed.
George C. Rable is a renowned historian, former professor at the University of Alabama, and past president of the Society of Civil War Historians. He has authored several award-winning books on the Civil War, Southern history, and Reconstruction. His latest work, Conflict of Command, examines the relationship between George McClellan and Abraham Lincoln.
Explore the ACWM artifact collection
The American Civil War Museum world-class collection of Civil War military and civilian artifacts totals over 15,000 objects from the battlefields and the homefront during the Civil War.
The Nau Collection at ACWM
In partnership with the American Battlefield Trust, ACWM has received on loan more than one hundred artifacts from the
John L. Nau, III Collection. The collection contains a wide variety of items used by soldiers serving in the Union army.
Our Locations
Three sites, one mission.
The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar

White House of the Confederacy

The American Civil War Museum at Appomattox

Experience the Museum


Events
Our programs and events include a wide variety of opportunities to engage with Civil War history! ACWM has events for all age groups, and interests. From discussions with authors and historians to social gatherings, our events are special.