A Slumbering Serpent: George Washington on Slavery and Disunion
2026-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
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

Mornings at the Museum: Faces of the Civil War
2026-07-07 10:00 - 16:00
Beginning July 7, join us every Tuesday/Thursday in July from 10AM–12PM and 2–4PM to learn about individuals who lived through the American Civil War, from the famous to the obscure.

Each day, we will focus on different people from all walks of life. We will have activities, games, crafts, and books geared toward elementary and middle school aged kids, but all are welcome to participate!

•July 7: The Presidency (Abraham Lincoln & Jefferson Davis)

•July 9: Freedom (Frederick Douglass & Henry Box Brown)

•July 14: Bleeding Kansas (John Brown)

•July 16: The Trent Affair (Charles Francis Adams, James Mason, & John Slidell)

•July 21: Espionage (Elizabeth Van Lew & Benjamin F. Stringfellow)

•July 23: Medicine (Mary Edwards Walker, Susie King Taylor, & Phoebe Pember)

•July 28: The Navy (Robert Smalls & Franklin Buchanan)

•July 30: Women of the Civil War (Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Todd Lincoln, & Varina Davis)

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Retreat from Victory with Francis Augustín O'Reilly
2026-07-16 18:00 - 19:00
Join author Francis Augustín O’Reilly for a deep dive into the pivotal Battle of Malvern Hill and the complexities of its outcome.

The Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, 1862, marked the climax of the Seven Days’ Battles around Richmond, Virginia. Fought on the doorstep of the Confederate capital, Malvern Hill marked the first time the full might of General George B. McClellan’s Union Army of the Potomac and General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia met. Despite resulting in a Union victory, the battle provided important advantages for the Confederacy, as McClellan retreated to establish a safe base on the James River.

Francis Augustín O’Reilly has been a professional battlefield guide for 40 years, as well as an award-winning author. He gives tours and lectures on topics of war and leadership all over Virginia and the world. His book, The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Book signing at 7 pm.

Members Reception at 5 pm

The Hell-Fired Blues: Virginians in the American Revolution
2026-07-21 18:30 - 19:30
Join historian John C. Settle as he uncovers the lives and service of Virginia’s Continental soldiers.

The American Civil War Museum–Appomattox is pleased to host the Appomattox Petersburg Preservation Society for their lecture, “The Hell-Fired Blues: Virginians in the American Revolution.”

Following the disastrous defeats at Charleston and Waxhaws, the Virginia Continental Line had to be reorganized. Despite the challenges of recruiting, supplying, and properly officering these new battalions, Virginia’s Continental soldiers played an important role in the campaigns in the South through the end of the Revolutionary War. Yet despite their service, they are largely forgotten. Through hundreds of pension applications and letters, John C. Settle has reconstructed the story of not only the battles and generals, but the experiences of the officers and men of the Virginia Continental Line as soldiers and veterans.

John C. Settle currently teaches U.S. history and civics in Powhatan County. His research focuses on the military experiences of Virginians during and after the Revolutionary War. His book, The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution’s Southern Campaigns, examines the experiences of Virginia Continental soldiers during the later years of the war. Settle has also published articles for the Fluvanna Historical Society and the Journal of the American Revolution.

The Boy Generals with Adolfo Ovies
2026-07-30 18:30 - 19:30
The turbulent events of the closing months of the Civil War serve as a backdrop for the increasingly dysfunctional—and bitter—relationship between George Armstrong Custer and Wesley Merritt.

Join us as Adolfo Ovies concludes The Boy Generals trilogy with a race from the Shenandoah Valley to Appomattox, offering an uncompromising examination of the darker aspects of how the war in the Valley unfolded.

The Boy Generals trilogy springs from his lifelong passion for the Civil War, and for George Custer’s role in it in particular. Ovies serves on the Board of Directors of the Little Big Horn Association, where he champions Custer’s role in the Civil War. He is an active member of the Miami Civil War Round Table and serves as the administrator of the group’s Facebook page.
