INFLUENCER
The American Civil War Museum BY PROFESSOR LUKE SALISBURY
T
he American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia, is one of the most innovative and thought-provoking museums in the country. The preservation and presentation of the Civil War have never been more important. Some say the war never ended. The Confederate battle flag, the famed stars, and bars (Actually the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia— you can learn about its evolution from banner to symbol at the museum) is still controversial. Look at the recent debates surrounding Confederate monuments. What did they mean when they were put up? What do they mean now? What should be done with them? Was the war fought over slavery? Should there be reparations for “the peculiar institution?” Have
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the psychic wounds of the Civil War healed? How does a museum located in the heart of the former capital of the Confederacy deal with such difficult issues? Robert Hancock, Senior Curator & Director of Collections, says the key is to look at history from many angles and to present information “in impactful ways that really engage the public.” This means visual and interactive exhibits, online exhibits, blogs, outreach to schools, free programs, and teacher institutes. Mr. Hancock is in a fine position to do this, as one of the first projects he worked on, was the first-ever exhibit on antebellum slaves. Before Freedom Came was at the Museum of the Confederacy, which subsequently became part of the American Civil War Museum, and was the most visited exhibit the museum ever
had. People came from all over the world, as they do now, and it is still asked about. As to the Confederate monuments on Richmond’s Monument Avenue, Mr. Hancock says, “The Museum doesn’t own them,” and individual communities need to deal with them on an individual basis, but if you want to know who put them up and why, the ACWM is the place to go. If you want to see photographs, flags, visit the White House of the Confederacy, the Tredegar Iron Works (The South’s most important industrial site), see objects from everyday life, do research, or learn about African Americans before, during, and after the war, this is the place. In fact, it’s the place to go for a deeper and fascinating look at the most traumatic and tragic event in American history.