The National Civil War Museum

Our History club and some friends visited the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA.  This is a neat little museum, but a little strange to me that no battle was fought there.  They were prepared to fight when Lee was advancing north, but the Confederates never made it that far.  None the less, the museum is there.

There were lots of nicely done exhibits, like comparing the different uniforms, medical equipment, and weapons.

There was also an exhibit about the slave who mailed himself (with help from abolitionists) to the North and freedom.  I like that they reproduced the box, so that the kids could get inside to try to experience what it would have felt like to be in that box, upside down at times, for the hours and hours it took to get to freedom.

They have a nice eating area as well where the kids had a lunch.

I don't know that this museum is worth a trip all on its own.  It was a nice addition to our lessons, and thankfully inside on a chilly day, but I'd rather visit the actual battlefields and the museums that usually accompany those.
Still the kids had fun and got to see and touch and listen and watch civil war history, so it's all good.
:)