Tag: Civil War

History Teaches Us to Hope – October 17

Looking for something to do on Wednesday evening? A free lecture entitled “History Teaches Us to Hope: Drawing Inspiration from the Shenandoah Valley’s Civil War” begins at 7 p.m. in Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium, Shenandoah University. Assistant Professor of history and Director of the Center for Civil War History at Lord Fairfax Community College Jonathan A. Noyalas is the guest speaker.

Jonathan Noyalas is the author or editor of eight books on Civil War Era history and has also written scores of essays, book chapters, articles and reviews for scholarly and popular publications such as America’s Civil War, Civil War Times, Blue & Gray, Civil War News, and Hallowed Ground. In March 2012 he served as chair of the sesquicentennial conference on Stonewall Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign and will chair the National Historic District’s Sesquicentennial conference in 2013. He is currently under contract to write a book about the Battle of Fisher’s Hill and is also continuing his research on postwar reunions and reconciliation in the Shenandoah Valley.

Click here for a PDF copy of the lecture flyer. Contact the coordinator of the Center for Lifelong Learning, Jo Miller, at 540/665-5442 or jmille3@su.edu for more information on this event.

150th Anniversary of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign Events

A number of events commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign will be taking place in our area from May 24 to June 9. Here’s a rundown of the events:

  • May 24, 2012: “150 Years Ago…On This Day” Tour – The Running Fight on the Valley Pike (Middletown) – Presented by Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
  • May 25, 2012: “150 Years Ago…On This Day” Tour – The First Battle of Winchester (Winchester)
  • May 25, 2012: “History at Sunset” – The First Battle of Winchester (Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester) – Presented by the MSV and Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
  • May 27, 2012: Clarke County Memorial Day Service (Berryville)
  • June 9-10, 2012: Reenactment of Cross Key and Port Republic (Cedar Creek Battlefield, Middletown) – Presented by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.

In addition, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s major regional event, “If This Valley is Lost”: Preserving the Legacy of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign, will be held in Cross Keys on June 9.

Visit Shenandoah at War for the full list of events related to Jackson’s Valley Campaign.

Countdown to Civil War Weekend and Preservation Conference

It’s almost time for two of the most anticipated events in the history and preservation community from September 24-27. The activities begin with the Civil War Weekend on Saturday, September 24, with nine sites and programs at various times and locations.

The Preservation Virginia Conference begins the afternoon of Sunday, September 25 in Winchester. The conference registration is nearly full; for inquiries on reservations, please call Alexis Feria at 804-648-1889, ext. 300 or e-mail aferia@preservationvirginia.org. The preliminary conference program is available for download at http://preservationvirginia.org/Conference/preliminaryProgram08.pdf.

We hope to see you there!

Shenandoah Moonlight Ball: July 30

Step back in time, dance,and be merry! The Shenandoah Moonlight Ball is a free, family-friendly traditional southern ball in historic downtown Winchester. Period dance instruction is provided by the Victorian Dance Ensemble and music provided by Susquehanna Travellers. Period, casual or formal attire.

Date: Saturday, July 30, 2011
Time: 6:00 PM-10:00 PM
Venue: First Presbyterian Church, 116 South Loudoun Street, Winchester VA
Phone: (540) 662-4946
Email: wincparks@ci.winchester.va.us
Cost: FREE!

Document Digitization Project: July 29 and 30

The Civil War 150 Legacy Project is coming to Winchester on July 29-30 at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center. The project is an effort to scan Civil War-era (or related) documents and photographs from private collections.

Citizens are encouraged to bring original family materials to be scanned and included in the Project. This is a unique opportunity to share original family Civil War documents and photographs with a wider audience – without giving up ownership or any rights to those original materials.

Please note:

  • Materials must be originals.
  • Materials must be from private collections.
  • Only flat materials can be scanned; no three-dimensional objects can be included.
  • This is not an appraisal opportunity. (Library of Virginia personnel will not be able to give any kind of valuation to the materials.)

    • Participants in the project should call ahead to make a scanning appointment. Appointments will be scheduled between 10 am and 4pm on both July 29 and 30. To schedule an appointment, participants should call the Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center at 540-542-1326.

    The length of the appointments will vary depending upon the material to be scanned:

  • Diary: 30-45 minutes per diary
  • Letter – 5 pages or less: 10 minutes
  • Letter – 6-15 pages: 20 minutes
  • Photograph: 5 minutes per item

    • While the digitizing and display of the materials that have been scanned at previous events is an ongoing process, you can see a sample of what’s been scanned at the “Virginia Memory: CW Legacy Project” section of the Library of Virginia website at http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/cw150.

    Guided Civil War Tours

    Guided Civil War Walking Tours are now available on a regular basis, June through October, in Historic Old Town Winchester and the Historic Frederick County communities of Stephens City and Middletown. New this year is a guided walking tour of Kernstown Battlefield and a guided driving tour of Cedar Creek Battlefield.

    The tours are a project of the Winchester-Frederick County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, and are coordinated by the Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

    “This is a great way for individuals, families, and groups to explore the culture and history of our area,” said Sally Coates, Executive Director of the Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

    “Also to be considered is the fact that walking is a wonderful low-impact form of exercise,” she added. “The walking tours are fun, informative, and healthy.”

    Most of the tours are designed to last about one hour.

    Each experienced tour guide helps participants understand the Civil War from the civilian’s prospective. Featured are stirring stories of the townspeople, their homes and businesses.
    Continue reading Guided Civil War Tours

    Battle of Front Royal & Battle of Winchester

    As part of the 149th Anniversary Program of the Civil War, the Warren County Committee of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission are sponsoring two programs in May, highlighting “Stonewall” Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign. The event focuses on the Battle of Front Royal and the Battle of Winchester.

    Monday, May 23rd, 2011: Battle of Front Royal

    Historical Overview: 12:00pm-1:00pm

    Battlefield Tour: 1:00pm-4:00pm

    Wednesday, May 25th, 2011: Battle of Winchester

    Historical Overview: 12:00pm-1:00pm

    Battlefield Tour: 1:00pm-4:00pm

    • Both programs begin at the Warren Heritage Society located at 101 Chester Street in Front Royal

    • Tickets: $10 per tour

    • Contact the Warren Heritage Society: (540) 636-0702 or the Warren Rifles Confederate Memorial Museum: (540) 636-6982 to reserve tickets

    Virginia Civil War Legacy Project

    The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission and the Library of Virginia are partnering in the Civil War 150 Legacy Project to identify and locate original source materials in Virginia that are related to the Civil War and emancipation. The project will be visiting Winchester and Frederick County on July 22 and 23. Start looking for relevant items now!

    Materials may include letters, memoirs, pension materials, military passes, discharge papers, diaries, hand-drawn maps, and selected memorabilia and other Civil War era manuscripts. Of particular interest to the project are global and pacifist perspectives and the viewpoints of individual African Americans and women. Items must be owned by the individual presenting the materials for digitization.

    Follow the project and see a sampling of the scanned items at The Virginia Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the Civil War website.

    American Freedom, 1865-1965: A History

    Join Dr. Warren Hofstra for a free lecture on February 16. Is a single, finite definition of freedom the immutable bedrock principle of the American republic? Or is freedom an idea with a history that has changed in meaning with time and varied political circumstances? This talk explores how Americans have understood freedom in the critical century following the Civil War.

    The lecture will be held on February 16, 7:30-9 PM at Shenandoah University’s Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium.  For more information, call (540) 665-5442 or e-mail jmille3@su.edu.

    This event is sponsored by The Center for Lifelong Learning.

    The Shenandoah Valley Book Festival

    Saturday, January 22, 2011

    Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester

    If you love books and are interested in Civil War history, you will not want to miss the Shenandoah Valley Book Festival! In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this year’s event at the MSV will focus on the Civil War in print

    What:       Shenandoah Valley Book Festival

    When:      Saturday, January 22

    Where:    Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst St., Winchester

    Cost:          $8, $6 for senior/youth (includes gallery admission).  Free to MSV members.

    More Information:  Available here or by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 235.

    Website:  www.ShenandoahMuseum.org

    Continue reading The Shenandoah Valley Book Festival