Upcoming Special Events Around the Country



April 14 - August 1, 2011
Exhibition: New York’s Civil War Soldiers –
Photographs of Dr. R. B. Bontecou, Words of Walt Whitman

Dr. R. B. Bonetcou’s photographs of wounded Civil War soldiers from New York regiments, on display for the first time since the 19th century, show the supreme sacrifices made by Americans and their families in sobering detail. Captioned by quotations from Specimen Days, Walt Whitman’s memoir of wartime volunteer nursing duty, these photographs, along with other images and memorabilia of the time, tell the real story that Whitman said would “never get into the books.” Presented in collaboration with The Burns Archive (burnsarchive.com), in honor of the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. Included with regular admission: $10, $5 Student & Seniors, MHM Members free. Reservations not required.

Location: Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East Fourth Street (btwn Lafayette & Bowery)
New York, NY 10003
Time: 12 - 5pm
tel: 212.777.1089

April 30 & May 1, 2011
Spring Civil War Living History Weekend

Old Mill Village, PA. Hours each day are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See www.oldmillvillage.org for more information.

May 14 - October 1, 2011
Jay Heritage Center
Rye, NY

Location: 1838 Jay Mansion
Free and Open to the Public
Grand Opening Saturday May 14, 2011 - 10 - 5pm
Sundays 2- 5pm

From Manumission to Emancipation - The Jay Family and the Abolition of Slavery: This exhibit will examine the role of John Jay and his descendants in abolishing slavery, from Revolutionary Times through to the Civil War. In this unique presentation that uses John Jay’s family home in Rye as a portal to the past, visitors will come to understand how Jay’s earliest antislavery efforts in 1777 through to his signing of Gradual Emancipation Act in 1799, were further advanced by his family through to the Civil War, including the enlistment of Jay's descendants in Union blue. The Jay Heritage Center’s collection of original Jay family letters, books, paintings, photos, Civil war flags and artifacts will be displayed for the very first time at this landmark event.

Suzanne Clary
Jay Heritage Center, President
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 698-9275

May 15, 2011 - Sunday, 4pm to 7pm
Jay Heritage Center
Rye, NY

Location: 1907 Carriage House
Reservations required.

Lincoln and Shakespeare - Dramatic Readings/ Q & A, Followed by a Cocktail Reception, co-sponsored by the Shakespeare Society: This event literally sets the stage for future programs examining how our historical leaders’ invoked literary works by the Bard to inspire the American public. Like Lincoln, John Jay was a devoted reader of Shakespeare most famously evidenced by his reference in Federalist Paper No. 2, under the pseudonym of Publius, to Shakespeare’s Henry 8th. Rallying the nation in 1788 to oppose forces jeopardizing our nation’s solidarity Jay warned, “I sincerely wish that it may be as clearly foreseen by every good citizen, that whenever the dissolution of the Union arrives, America will have reason to exclaim, in the words of the poet: “FAREWELL! A LONG FAREWELL TO ALL MY GREATNESS.” In this first program, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil war, guests are invited to examine the grand and simple language of Abraham Lincoln as it is steeped in the rhythms and figures of Shakespeare. Beyond rhetorical echoes and linguistic similarities, Lincoln and Shakespeare shared an abiding concern with the nature of ambition, as well as a view of civil war as the great human catastrophe. In this fascinating afternoon, essayist and author Adam Gopnik (Angels and Ages: A Short Book About Darwin, Lincoln and Modern Life) examines the words of these two great writers. With readings from Macbeth, Henry IV, Henry VIII, and Hamlet as well as Lincoln's writings. Featuring Tony and Drama Desk Award winner Jefferson Mays (Measure for Measure, I Am My Own Wife), and Obie and Lortel Award winner John Douglas Thompson (Othello, Emperor Jones)

Suzanne Clary
Jay Heritage Center, President
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 698-9275

May 20 - 22, 2011
Fire on the Genesee, NY

The 12th Annual "Fire on the Genesee" Civil War Encampment at Letchworth State Park, NY For more information visit their Website.

May 21 - 22, 2011
Spotsylvania, VA

The Battles of Spotsylvania 2010 Civil War Reenactment & Bluegrass for the Battlefields Benefit Concert. For more information visit their Website.

June 11 - 12, 2011
Peterboro, NY

Annual Civil War Weekend. For more information visit their Website.

July 1 - 3, 2011
Annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment

For more information visit their Website.

July 29 - 31, 2011
Owego, NY

Owego Civil War Reenactment, Hosted by ERA at Rudins Farm, Gaskill Rd, Owego, NY. For more information, contact Debbie Taft or Melody Patterson.

August 5-7, 2011
Windham, NY

Annual Civil War Heritage Music Gathering & Encampment with Special Sesquicentennial Grand Concert on Saturday August 6.
Historic Centre Church
Rte 23
Windham, NY 12496

August 26 - 28, 2011
Binghamton, NY

Pierce Creek Civil War Weekend - Stevens Rd.

September 10 - 11, 2011
Rome, NY

Annual Civil War Weekend to be held at Erie Canal Village, Rome, NY. For more information visit their Website.

October 9, 2011
Coventry Museum's 7th Annual Civil War Event

Coventry Town Museum Presents it's 7th Annual Civil War Commemorative Event, "Letters Home To Coventryville From The War", Sunday, October 9,2011, on the grounds of the Coventryville Congregational Church. The Commemorative Program honors Coventry native son, Sergeant Henry Andrews, a veteran of the Civil War, who sent 130 letters and his diary home to his wife, Libby, during the Civil War.

Program begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.

November 5, 2011
Local Memorial Illumination

The Binghamton Civil War Historical Society and Roundtable is holding it's Second Annual Civil War Veterans Memorial Illumination at three local cemeteries: Chenango Valley in Hillcrest, Floral Park in Johnson City, and Spring Forest in Binghamton. This Free, drive-through event is open to the public on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. In the event of inclement weather (i.e. snow/ice storm), the Memorial Illumination will take place on Saturday, November 12, 2011 (same times).

November 19, 2011
Gettysburg Remembrance Day

The Remembrance Day Parade at 1pm and the Memorial Illumination at Soldiers' Cemetery, 6pm.

December 3, 2011
Antietam

Annual Memorial Illumination of the Battlefield. Park closes at 3 p.m. The Illumination opens to the public at 6:00 p.m.

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