American Civil War Museum

What the Irish Taught Civil War Americans
2025-09-24 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join us as Dr. Aaron Sheehan-Dean delves into his book Fighting With the Past: How Seventeenth-Century History Shaped the American Civil War. In this talk, he will examine how Union and Confederate armies in the Civil War drew on differing interpretations of Irish history, particularly in shaping their views on how the war should end—whether with generosity or punishment.

Dr. Sheehan-Dean is the Fred C. Frey Professor of Southern Studies and Chair of the History Department at Louisiana State University. He specializes in nineteenth-century U.S. history, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and Southern history. He is also the author of the award-winning The Calculus of Violence: How Americans Fought the Civil War, Why Confederates Fought: Family and Nation in Civil War Virginia, and, most recently, Reckoning with Rebellion: War and Sovereignty in the Nineteenth Century.

Member reception is at 5:00pm

Lincoln Prize Lecture
2025-10-15 18:00 - 20:00
Registration is OPEN for the ACWM Lincoln Prize Lecture at Tredegar in Richmond, Virginia. This year’s ticket includes a signed copy of the book!

The lecture is presented by the 2025 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize recipient, and 2025 Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Edda Fields-Black for her book Combee (Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War). The evening includes a reception with the speaker, lecture, and audience question and answer segment moderated by prominent historian, Dr. Ed Ayers.

The Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize is awarded annually for the finest scholarly work published in the prior year in English on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War soldier, or the American Civil War era, and one that also enhances the general public’s understanding of the Civil War era.

Join us at 6pm for a reception with the speaker, featuring light refreshments and drinks, courtesy of Dogwood & Thistle Wine Company.

6pm – Reception

7pm – Lecture

Members enjoy 25% off—use your exclusive code at checkout.

Sponsored by The Wilton Companies

Check out our videos below with Dr. Edda Fields-Black!

Asia Booth Clarke: Virtual Talk with Lisa Samia
2025-10-23 18:30 - 19:30
The story of Asia Booth Clarke’s life is relatively unknown, but she chronicled the Booth family through her letters, poems, and books. In her memoir about her brother John, Asia condemned his murderous act, but she continued to love him. However, because John made the Booth name infamous, she suffered a lifetime of collateral damage. The five words from Shakespeare that concluded her memoir of her brother, “so runs the world away,” were the bitter fruit of trying to explain what was in her heart, which was and always would be unexplainable.

Lisa G. Samia is an award-winning poet and author specializing in Civil War history. She has served as Artist in Residence with the National Park Service at Gettysburg, Manassas, and Stones River, honored for her poetry exploring the personal narratives of the Civil War. Her acclaimed series The Nameless and the Faceless of the Civil War earned a 2024 nomination from the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards. Lisa is currently researching the life of Asia Booth Clarke while continuing her work in Civil War poetry.

Almost Famous: The Strange, Spooky & Bizarre Tales of Old City Cemetery
2025-10-30 18:30 - 19:30
There were NUMEROUS ways one could lose their life in the 19th century. At Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, our favorites are the folks who really went out with a bang. These are the strange, spooky, and downright bizarre tales that never made the history books. The people you’ll meet during this presentation are all folks who lived and died in the margins between standard and spectacular. You’ve never heard of them, but after this, you’ll never forget.Ashleigh Meyer is a public historian and serves as Manager of Historic Research, Marketing, and Storytelling at Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg.

Lecture begins 6:30pm at American Civil War Museum-Appomattox.

Lunch & Learn: The Politics of Freedom and the Battle of Fredericksburg
2025-12-15 12:00 - 12:45
Moved to Dec 15 @ 12 p.m.

RESCHEDULED TO NEXT MONDAY, dECEMBER 15TH, DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Part of our Lunch & Learn series! Bring your own lunch (or feel free to grab something to go from our neighbor, Daisy’s) and join us for this noontime talk in the ACWM—Tredegar lobby!

December Topic:

The Politics of Freedom & the Battle of Fredericksburg with Chuck Young

The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in December 1862, a time when armies had ended active campaigning and were settling into their camps for the winter. However, President Abraham Lincoln desperately wanted a battlefield victory before the year ended to bolster support for the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Having replaced the lackluster and politically motivated General George McClellan at the head of the Army of the Potomac, he was counting on General Ambrose Burnside to provide victory and lend authority to the proclamation. Though inexperienced in overall command, could Burnside deliver?

Included with Museum Admission/ Free to Members

Virtual Talk: Feeding Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia with Michael C. Hardy
2025-12-18 18:30 - 19:30
Food, or the lack of it, played a crucial role in the Civil War, contributing mightily to the success and failure of campaigns and affecting the overall outcome of the conflict. From how soldiers prepared meals to the hunger they often endured, understanding their daily sustenance offers a unique window into their experiences and the broader logistics of the Confederate army. Join us as author and historian Michael C. Hardy explores this often-neglected topic.

After three decades and more than twenty-five books, Michael C. Hardy is still finding unexplored corners of history. His books, articles, and popular blog posts cover the history of people, places, and events across the Southern United States.

Lunch & Learn: Love in Lynchburg—Where North Met South
2026-01-12 12:00 - 12:45
Part of our Lunch & Learn series! Bring your own lunch (or feel free to grab something to go from our neighbor, Daisy’s) and join us for this noontime talk in the ACWM—Tredegar lobby!

January Topic:

The Slaughters of Lynchburg: Where North Met South with Robert Hancock

Mary Harker was a young Quaker girl from Mt. Holly, New Jersey. John Slaughter was a slaveholder living and working in Lynchburg, VA. In 1861 they had been married eight years and had three sons with a fourth child on the way. So how did these two people, with obviously disparate backgrounds, end up together?

John was teased that “the prettiest girl in New Jersey was marrying the ugliest man in Virginia.” Was it some sort of arranged marriage?

How did Mary reconcile her Quaker upbringing with managing a home with five enslaved servants? And would their relationship survive the war when Mary traveled home to her parents and John stayed to defend Lynchburg against an approaching Union army?

Included with Museum Admission/ Free to Members

In-Person Book Talk: After the Fire with Nelson Lankford
2026-01-22 18:00 - 19:15
Explore Richmond’s rebirth after the 1865 fire in After the Fire with Dr. Nelson Lankford in this compelling look at a city reshaped by war.

In April 1865, the war that had consumed Richmond for four years ended in a massive fire that nearly destroyed the city. As the smoke cleared, no one knew what kind of society would emerge to replace the world that had been lost. After the Fire offers a wide range of perspectives that bring this vanished moment to life—one marked by hardship, defeat, celebration, false starts, and the rise of Confederate nostalgia and attempts at racial reconciliation. The book traces the struggles of Confederates and Unionists, men and women, and Black and white residents as they fought to shape the postwar future of Virginia’s capital city.

For thirty years, Dr. Nelson D. Lankford edited the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the quarterly journal of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. He is the author or editor of eight books, the best known being Richmond Burning: The Last Days of the Confederate Capital. His new book, which he will discuss in this lecture, is its sequel. After the Fire: Richmond in Defeat continues the story of the city and its people in the aftermath of war and devastation.

Dr. Lankford is a native of Hampton, Virginia. He received his B.A. from the University of Richmond and his Ph.D. and MBA from Indiana University Bloomington.

5 PM: Members Reception

6 – 7:15 PM: Lecture followed by Book Signing

Lunch & Learn: Voices of Abolition
2026-02-02 12:00 - 12:45
Part of our Lunch & Learn series! Bring your own lunch (or feel free to grab something to go from our neighbor, Daisy’s) and join us for this noontime talk in the ACWM—Tredegar lobby!

February Topic:

Voices of Abolition with Kelly Hancock

In 1830, the first Negro Convention was held, marking the beginning of Black involvement in the abolition movement. However, the contributions of a few African Americans, with the exception of Frederick Douglass, are widely unknown today. From debates over colonization to moral suasion and outright violence, African Americans were at the forefront of shaping and maintaining the movement. This talk will shed light on several key individuals and their persistent efforts to bring about the end of slavery and achieve equality under the law.

Included with Museum Admission/ Free to Members

Appomattox in Black, White, Blue, & Gray
2026-02-12 18:30 - 20:30
Join us at The American Civil War Museum–Appomattox on Thursday, February 12, 2026, for a living history presentation and lecture by Reverend Alfred Jones. Hear the story of Hannah Reynolds, an enslaved woman, unfold through the eyes of her husband, Abe Reynolds, as he recounts the final days of her life from April 9 to 12, 1865. Gravely wounded during the Battle of Appomattox Court House, Hannah would succumb to her injuries—but not before becoming a free woman.

Following the performance, Reverend Jones will conclude the evening with his presentation, “Appomattox in Black, White, Blue, & Gray,” exploring the diverse and complex community that made up Appomattox County in the 1860s.

Free for members.

Relationships Forged in War Symposium (February 13—15)
2026-02-14 08:45 - 17:30
About the Symposium:

The American Civil War was not only a clash of armies and ideologies, but it also shaped and tested loyalty, friendship, family, and enmity on the battlefield and within the halls of government across a divided nation. The 2026 ACWM Symposium will explore human connections that emerged from conflict.

Symposium daylong event occurs on Saturday, February 14, 2026 from 9:30am-5:30pm. Doors Open: 8:45am

New to the symposium this year:

A full weekend Civil War history experience you may customize to your schedule and interests.This year we are pleased to provide more options and more opportunities to engage with the museum, symposium speakers, and our historians! Join small group tours of the collections, a special “Meet the Speakers” Q&A program and private reception in the museum, and ACWM historian-led battlefield tours on Friday and Sunday! Scroll down for more details.

LECTURES WILL BE PRESENTED BY:

•Dr. Jonathan White, Professor of American Studies, Christopher Newport University“Unlikely Collaborators: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Promise of America”

•Dr. Brandi Brimmer, Morehead-Cain Alumni Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.“Black Women, Civil War Memory, and the U.S. Pension Bureaucracy”

•Dr. William C. “Jack” Davis, retired Executive Director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies and Professor of History at Virginia Tech.“Davis, Johnston, and Beauregard–The Triple-play that Crippled the Confederacy”

•Dr. Lindsay Privette, Associate Professor of History, Anderson University“Together at Vicksburg: Exploring the Bonds Between Commanders, Surgeons, and Soldiers”

•Dr. Caroline Janney, John L Nau, III, Professor in History of American Civil War, Director, John L. Nau III Center for Civil War History“From Partisan Warrior to Family Man: The Personal Relationships of John S. Mosby”

ticket options:

TICKET TYPES•General – $100•Member – $75•Student – $35

ADD-ONS•Friday: “Relationships Forged in War” Themed Collections Tours – $25 per person•Friday: Meet the Speakers & Reception in the Museum– $40•Saturday: Lunch – $12.50 (No Longer Accepting Lunch Orders)

•Friday & Sunday: Battlefield Tour – $35 PER PERSON

FRIDAY PROGRAM:

Meet the Speakers Q&A Program & Reception in the Museum

Join us Friday from 5-7:00pm at ACWM–Tredegar for the “Meet the Speakers” program. The talk starts in the auditorium at 5PM, followed by a reception at 6PM.

Friday, February 13th, 2026

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Collections TOURS:

“Relationships Forged in War” Themed Collections Tours

Join us Friday at ACWM-Tredegar for a “Relationships Forged in War” themed Collections Tour! Enjoy an intimate 8-person tour of our artifact collection led by Director of Collections, Robert Hancock.

Friday, February 13th, 2026

Slot Times: 2pm, 3pm, 4pm

Battlefield Tours:

Caravan tours: participants will drive their own vehicles to meet an ACWM historic site interpreter at the stops for an overview of troop movements and battles.

Overland Campaign

Friday, February 13th, 2026

9:00am – 3:00pm

The tour begins at the Germanna Visitor Center (2062 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove VA) near the site where Grant’s army crossed the Rapidan River to begin the campaign. From there, the tour proceeds through the Wilderness Battlefield (NPS), stopping at Saunders Field and the Widow Tapp Farm. Following the route taken by Grant’s army, the tour moves on to the Spotsylvania Courthouse Battlefield (NPS) with stops at Laurel Hill, the Muleshoe, and the fortification exhibit. From there, the tour continues on to the North Anna Battlefield site, then to the Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield (NPS), and finally the Cold Harbor Battlefield (NPS). At Cold Harbor, the group will be able to briefly explore the earthworks.

Appomattox Campaign

Sunday, February 15th, 2026

9:00am – 3:00pm

The caravan tour begins at ACWM-Tredegar and follows the retreat route of General Richard S. Ewell’s Richmond defense forces. The first stop will be at Branch’s Baptist Church, where General Custis Lee’s forces from the Chaffin’s Bluff defenses joined the main marching column. The tour proceeds to Mt. Zion Road near Jetersville for the story of Amelia Court House and the retreat’s westward turn, before stopping at Deatonville and Sayler’s Creek Battlefield (VSP). From there, the tour makes its way to Farmville, the Cumberland Church battlefield, Clifton (Grant’s headquarters from April 8-9), and New Hope Church (Confederate rear guard April 8-9). The tour concludes at ACWM-Appomattox with a talk about the Battle of Appomattox Station and the group doing a self-guided tour of the museum galleries.

SATURDAY’S Daylong SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE:

8:45–9:30 AM – Check-in

9:30 AM – Opening Remarks

9:40–10:40 AM – Dr. Jonathan White, Christopher Newport University “Unlikely Collaborators: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Promise of America” and Q&A

11:00 AM–12:00 PM – Dr. Lindsay Privette, Anderson University “Together at Vicksburg: Exploring the Bonds Between Commanders, Surgeons, and Soldiers” and Q&A

12:00PM – Lunch

1:00–2:00 PM – Dr. Caroline Janney, University of Virginia “From Partisan Warrior to Family Man: The Personal Relationships of John S. Mosby” and Q&A

2:20–3:20 PM – Dr. Brandi Brimmer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “Black Women, Civil War Memory, and the U.S. Pension Bureaucracy” and Q&A

3:40–4:40 PM – Dr. William C. “Jack” Davis, Virginia Tech (ret.) “Davis, Johnston, and Beauregard—The Triple-Play that Crippled the Confederacy” and Q&A

4:40 PM – Closing Remarks

5:00–5:30 PM – Book Signing

Book your hotel room for the event at special rates, available here on an exclusive basis.

American Civil War Museum Courtesy Block – Richmond Marriott Downtown

In partnership with The John L. Nau Center for Civil War Studies at the University of Virginia.

The Invincible Twelfth with Benjamin Cwayna
2026-02-19 18:30 - 19:30
Join Benjamin L. Cwayna for a virtual talk on the “Invincible Twelfth” and the bold, costly legacy of the 12th South Carolina Infantry.

The 12th South Carolina Infantry took part in nearly every major engagement of the war in the Eastern Theater and earned a sterling reputation for its drill and discipline. It became known for its impetuous, devastating, and sometimes reckless attacks and counterattacks. This boldness came at a heavy cost: by the war’s end, only about 150 of the nearly 1,400 men who served in the regiment’s ranks surrendered at Appomattox Court House.

Join Benjamin L. Cwayna for this virtual talk to discover what years of research and exhaustive study of primary sources have revealed about the “invincible Twelfth.”

Father James Sheeran of the 14th Louisiana
2026-03-12 18:30 - 19:30
Reverend Robert J. Miller discusses Father James Sheeran who was considered by some, one of the most colorful figures, of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. He was a widower, an Irish immigrant, and a dedicated Catholic priest, and an outspoken warrior of the ‘Lord’s Army’ whether North or South. He was heard to be blunt, outspoken and cantankerous to officers, soldiers and even civilians. Yet, his spiritual and personal attention to the troops in his care was exemplary.

Unconditional Surrender: Ulysses S. Grant in the Civil War
2026-03-19 18:30 - 19:30
From “Sam” to “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, discover how an unassuming officer rose to command all U.S. forces.

His friends called him “Sam.” His wife called him “Lyss” or “Victor.” His initials inspired a nickname tied to one of his greatest battlefield triumphs: “Unconditional Surrender Grant.” The unassuming Grant never expected to play a significant role in the Civil War, yet by its end, he commanded every soldier in the United States armed forces. Join us as living historian, Dr. Curt Fields, shares insights from his book co-authored with Chris Mackowski.

Our Fathers Brought Forth: Lincoln’s Gratitude in the Gettysburg Address
2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for Dr. Lang’s talk on March 26 at 6pm!

Reflecting on Lincoln and the ancient virtue of gratitude, Dr. Andrew F. Lang discusses Lincoln’s rhetoric within the political and military contexts of 1863 and makes connections to the past and future.

Members Reception at 5 pm

Myths about Lee’s Surrender
2026-04-09 18:30 - 19:30
In commemoration of the surrender at Appomattox, join us as Patrick Schroeder, Historian at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park, delves deeper into what really happened on April 9, 1865. Drawing on research for his books Thirty Myths about Lee’s Surrender and More Myths about Lee’s Surrender, Patrick Schroeder separates myth from fact.

Why Gettysburg Matters
2026-04-27 18:00 - 20:00
Why has Gettysburg always been the Civil War’s most famous battle and how has it shaped American national identity? In this talk, professor of U.S. political history Adam Smith argues that ever since the news of Confederate defeat spread on July 4, 1863, Gettysburg has been imagined as a place of national “rebirth”. In its own way, it has been — and continues to be — as vital to the story of American nationhood as anything that happened in the Revolution.

Members Reception at 5 pm

A Slumbering Serpent: George Washington on Slavery and Disunion
2026-06-30 18:00 - 19:00
In this engaging living history program, George Washington (portrayed by Brian Hilton) will reflect on the moral, economic, and political challenges of slavery in his time and the growing divisions threatening the young nation’s unity. The presentation offers a historically grounded and thoughtful exploration of Washington’s evolving conscience and leadership.

Following his remarks, the audience will be invited to engage in a question-and-answer session exploring these complex issues.

Members Reception at 5 pm
