Tredegar Tree Lighting
2025-11-20 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Kick off the holiday season with the official lighting of the Tredegar Tree! 480 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA

Join us at the popular Tredegar Tree Lighting as we officially illuminate the 20-foot-tall tree in the museum lobby! A Richmond holiday favorite, the lighting of the Tredegar Tree features live music by the Joe Sarver Trio and holiday cheer provided by Dogwood & Thistle Wine Company.

This event is family-friendly and free to the public. The Tredegar Tree is decorated with handcrafted, 19th-century–era-style ornaments and hundreds of lights . A great way to start the season!

5:30 PM: Doors open

6:30 PM: Tree lighting

Sponsored by The Wilton Companies

Christmas Open House at ACWM-Appomattox
2025-12-13 10:00 - 15:00
Sip cider, shop local, meet Civil War Santa, and enjoy live music at ACWM–Appomattox’s Christmas Open House!

Get in some holiday shopping while enjoying hot cider, cookies, and Christmas crafts to keep the kids entertained. Meet and learn about the origins of Civil War Santa, and experience the sights and sounds of a 19th-century Christmas as our reconstructed cabin comes to life with living history interpretations by the Pallas Athena Ladies Aid Society.

Additionally, enjoy live music by Doves and Dragons throughout the day, with special performances by the Appomattox Youth Chorale at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

A big shout-out to all our wonderful participants and vendors joining us for this event:•Refocused•Lil Daisy Soaps•The Festive Circle•Wagon Wheel Farms LLC•Jennings Farm, LLC•The Chaotic Paintbox LLC•The Coffee Nook – Food Truck•Amber McKinney•J Robert Jamerson Memorial Library•Appomattox-Petersburg Preservation Society•Appomattox Court House National Historical Park•Pallas Athena Ladies Aid Society•Appomattox Youth Choral•Jordan Baptist Church

We hope you join us!

(Enjoy 10% off in the gift shop / 20% off for members)

Winter Wander
2025-12-14 12:00 - 16:00
In partnership with the Valentine, we invite you to join us for some holiday cheer on the picturesque block of East Clay Street! Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy a performance and partake in refreshments and family crafts.

This event is free and open to the public!

Tour the historic Court End neighborhood and hop on a free trolley for open houses and other activities at nearby cultural sites including us — the American Civil War Museum’s White House of the Confederacy!

There is also the John Marshall House, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Poe Museum, Monumental Church, and Masons’ Hall!

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.

Santa Visiting Tredegar!
2025-12-20 10:30 - 14:00
Snap a photo with Santa! Enjoy holiday cheer and be part of this beloved community tradition. Mimosas available for purchase.

Santa will be ready for photos at 11am!

Sponsored by The Wilton Companies

Mornings at the Museum: Celebrating Christmas in the Civil War
2025-12-22 10:00 - 12:00
Decorations and food are a beloved part of celebrating the holiday season. Come craft your very own Civil War–era Christmas decorations and join us as we explore popular recipes from the Civil War and how civilians and soldiers adapted when ingredients became scarce.

Recommended for children!

Mornings at the Museum: Battling Boredom – Soldiers' Games Behind the Lines
2025-12-29 10:00 - 12:00
Step into the everyday lives of Civil War soldiers and discover how they stayed entertained between battles!

When soldiers weren’t fighting, they relied on creativity, camaraderie, and classic games to pass the time – many of which we still play today. Join us to make your own knapsack checkerboard and experience games from the civil war.

Recommended for children!

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

Virtual Talk: Boutwell – Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy
2026-01-29 18:30 - 19:30
Don’t miss Dr. Jeffrey Boutwell, descendant of George S. Boutwell, as he uncovers his ancestor’s role in shaping Civil War & Reconstruction

George S. Boutwell of Massachusetts was a key figure in American public life for seven decades. He was a close ally of Presidents Lincoln and Grant in the fight for racial and economic equality during the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, and later led the anti-imperialist opposition to Presidents McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt over the annexation of the Philippines.

Join us as Boutwell’s descendant, Dr. Jeffrey Boutwell, explores the life of this remarkable individual and examines 19th-century politics and the failures of governance during a turbulent and formative period in American history.

Dr. Jeffrey Boutwell is a writer, historian, and public policy specialist with a forty-year career spanning journalism, government, and international scientific cooperation. He has written extensively on nuclear arms control, European politics, and Middle East security. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from MIT and a B.A. in history from Yale, and previously worked at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His newest book, BOUTWELL: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy (W.W. Norton, 2025), is a biography of his ancestor George S. Boutwell, a leading figure of the Civil War and Reconstruction eras.

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

Battling Boredom - Soldiers’ Games in the Civil War
2026-03-30 10:00 - 12:00
Mornings at the Museum are BACK this Spring Break!Step into the everyday lives of Civil War soldiers and discover how they stayed entertained between battles!

When soldiers weren’t fighting, they relied on creativity, camaraderie, and classic games to pass the time — many of which we still play today. Join us to make your own knapsack checkerboard and experience games from the Civil War.

Recommended for children.

Free for members!

Tickets include access to all exhibits.

Civil War Espionage
2026-04-01 10:00 - 12:00
Mornings at the Museum are BACK this Spring Break!

Richmond was an active site for spies during the Civil War. Join us to decrypt and create secret codes and find out about some of the spies that were active during the Civil War.

Explore artifacts from our handling collection that tell the story of Richmond spies like Elizabeth Van Lew & Benjamin F. Stringfellow.

Recommended for children.

Free for members!

Tickets include access to all exhibits.

Simple Machines at Tredegar
2026-04-03 10:00 - 12:00
Mornings at the Museum are BACK this Spring Break!Though it is a museum today, our site used to be the home of the Tredegar Iron Works, the largest iron works in the South! It produced thousands of manufactured goods, both for civilian use and for the Civil War.

Join us to create simple machines and explore artifacts that were used at Tredegar to learn more about the history of the Iron Works!

Recommended for children.

Free for members!

Tickets include access to all exhibits.

William Francis Bartlett Medal Award
2026-04-09 18:00 - 21:00
The American Civil War Museum (ACWM) is pleased to announce the establishment of the William Francis Bartlett Medal awarded annually to an American leader in business, politics or the military who best exemplifies character, selfless-service, and courage in adversity as well as patriotic commitment to the ideals of the United States of America.

Major General William Francis Bartlett was one of the youngest Union generals in the Civil War. He rose from a private soldier to general command at the age of 24, demonstrating unparalleled heroism, devotion, and endurance. Fighting in six major battles and severely wounded in four, Bartlett returned to service each time to preserve the Union, no matter the sacrifice. Leading troops in battle, including alongside USCT at the battles of Port Hudson and the Crater, Bartlett never hesitated to place himself at the point of maximum danger. Incredibly, his fierceness in battle translated into a spirit of unity after the war. Bartlett held what he called “a prejudice… in favor of peace” and stood against any “men who would divide or destroy or retard the prosperity and progress of the nation.” Returning to civilian service after the war, Bartlett became the senior manufacturing executive at the Tredegar Ironworks, now home to The American Civil War Museum. Upon his untimely death in 1876, brought on by his war wounds, he was remembered in both the North and the South as “one of the noblest of soldiers and citizens.”

The inaugural William Francis Bartlett Medal will be presented to Mr. Austin Brockenbrough, III at the Tredegar Foundry building at the American Civil War Museum on April 9, 2026. A former U.S. Marine, Mr. Brockenbrough’s life of dedicated service to this community and to this nation is exemplified by the dozens of charitable organizations he has supported and served for over six decades.

6pm – Cocktails

7pm – Dinner

Can’t attend but want to support us? We appreciate your support to the ACWM using this donation link.

The American Civil War Museum explores the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War through dynamic exhibitions, programs and lectures by the nation’s top scholars, and a world-class collection of artifacts. ACWM has locations in Richmond and Appomattox, Virginia. Visit acwm.org for more information about the collections, exhibitions, donating or to become a member.

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.

The Surrender at Appomattox Commemoration and Freedom Day Weekend
2026-04-11 10:00 - 2026-04-12 15:00
As part of the regional Commemoration of the Surrender & Freedom Day Weekend celebration, join us at ACWM-Appomattox for special events!

The American Civil War Museum is hosting a series of activities and programs as part of the regional celebration of the Commemoration of the Surrender & Freedom Day. Visitors can look forward to a fun-filled weekend of cannon firings, interactive sessions with living historians, and informative sessions about the lives of soldiers, civilians on the homefront, and enslaved and free African Americans during the Civil War.

We hope you will join us on April 11th and 12th at ACWM – Appomattox!

Voices of Appomattox: April 1865
2026-04-11 18:30 - 21:30
This special luminary program on the evening of April 11 is a guided evening experience where small groups are led across the site—including through the cabin—where guests will encounter powerful stories from multiple perspectives connected to the war’s final moments and the surrender here in Virginia. Visitors will stop at interpretive stations, featuring monologues presented by interpreters portraying individuals from April 1865.

We’re excited to present a both moving and reflective connection to the past!

Tours will run for 45 minutes to 1 hour each and will prepare to leave the museum’s main lobby every half hour, beginning at 6:30pm and running until the last tour at 8:30pm.

Registration Required

The Nameless and the Faceless of the Civil War
2026-04-16 18:30 - 19:30
Join award-winning poet Lisa G. Samia for an online talk on her Civil War poetry series, including The Nameless and the Faceless.

Not everyone who witnessed and experienced the Civil War is represented in history. By combining the rhyme and narrative of poetry with Civil War history, lost voices of the past come forth to share their experiences and suffering—where the humanity of history and the songs of the soul come together to create a deeper empathy for those lost and unknown.

Lisa G. Samia is an award-winning poet and author specializing in American Civil War history. She was selected as a National Park Service Artist-in-Residence for Stones River National Battlefield in 2025, Manassas National Battlefield Park in 2021, and Gettysburg National Military Park in 2020 for her poetry. Samia is the author of three Civil War poetry and essay collections: The Nameless and the Faceless of the Civil War, The Nameless and the Faceless Women of the Civil War, and The Nameless and the Faceless of the Civil War: Gettysburg, Manassas & More. Her third book in the series received a nomination from the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards in October 2024 in Baltimore.

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 I.P. 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.

Adam Smith is the Edward Orsborn Professor of U.S. Political History and Director of the Rothermere American Institute at the University of Oxford. His latest book is “Gettysburg”. Professor Smith is also the host of ‘The Last Best Hope’ podcast.

Members Reception at 5 pm

Tredegar History Tours (11AM/3PM Every Sat/Sun)
2026-04-30 11:00 | The American Civil War Museum – Historic Tredegar, 480 Tredegar St., Richmond, Virginia, 23219, United States
Step into History at Tredegar! Now happening every weekend!

Join us for a Tredegar History Tour—an engaging journey through the story of the former Tredegar Iron Works, right in the heart of downtown Richmond.

Tours take place every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and are included with your museum admission.

Explore one of Richmond’s most iconic historical sites, discover how cannons were made during the Civil War, and check out our current exhibitions!

Mother's Day Tea at ACWM Appomattox
2026-05-02 14:00 - 16:00 | ACWM Appomattox, 159 Horseshoe Rd, Appomattox, VA, 24522, United States
Celebrate Mother’s Day with afternoon tea at the American Civil War Museum – Appomattox! Treats, tea & a floral bouquet included.

Join us to celebrate Mother’s Day with an elegant afternoon tea at The American Civil War Museum – Appomattox, honoring the special women in your life!

Enjoy a cozy afternoon filled with conversation, delicious treats, and classic tea traditions. Tea service, provided by Tea to Thee, includes a selection of savory tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and sweet desserts, all paired with Earl Grey and Windsor Bloom teas.

Each ticket also includes a custom spring bouquet from The Blossom Farm—a lovely keepsake for the day.

Opium Slavery with Jonathan S. Jones
2026-05-07 18:30 - 19:30
Join Jonathan S. Jones for a virtual talk on Civil War veterans, opiate addiction, and how its legacy connects to today’s opioid crisis.

During the Civil War, opium and morphine were widely used because they were easy to get, making them a big part of wartime medicine. After the war ended, thousands of sick and injured soldiers became addicted, or as nineteenth-century Americans phrased it, “enslaved” to the drug. Veterans, their families, and communities struggled to deal with the health and social effects that came with addiction.

Medical and government authorities didn’t always respond well, often saying addiction was caused by moral weakness, lack of manliness, or mental problems. Framing addiction as “opium slavery” limited the effectiveness of care and left many veterans to suffer needlessly for decades after the war ended.

Using veterans’ own accounts, along with hospital and asylum records, government reports, newspapers, and advertisements, Jonathan S. Jones brings attention to these stories. In doing so, Jones provides critical historical context for the modern opioid crisis, which bears a tragic resemblance to that of the post–Civil War era.
