New England Civil War Museum facts for kids
The New England Civil War Museum and Research Center is a special place that teaches us about the American Civil War. It was first started by soldiers who fought in the Civil War back in 1896. But it didn't officially open as a museum until 1994.
You can find this museum inside the Memorial Building in Rockville, Connecticut. It's in a room that used to be a meeting hall for the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The GAR was a group for Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. A local GAR group, called Thomas F. Burpee Post #71, met here from 1890 to 1929. Today, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, a group for descendants of Union soldiers, still meet here. They have met in this hall since 1890, making it the oldest GAR Hall in the country that's still used!
Museum Collections and History
Most of the items in the museum were given by the Civil War veterans themselves. Today, the museum has hundreds of items from the Civil War time. Some important collections include items from the Hirst brothers and Kilbourne Newell, who were in the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. There are also items from Colonel Thomas F. Burpee of the 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and Charles Weston, a musician in the 5th and 7th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
The museum also has a library called the O'Connell-Chapman Library. It holds over 1,000 books about the Civil War. You can also find original copies of The War of the Rebellion. This was a huge collection of official records from the Union and Confederate Armies. The U.S. War Department put it together between 1880 and 1901. The library also has original Civil War maps and old photos of local Civil War veterans.
The Memorial Building has the main Grand Hall, another room, and a kitchen. The museum, library, and these rooms belong to the Alden Skinner Camp #45 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Years ago, the museum got back some of its original property from the town of Vernon. This part of the building used to be owned by the GAR, but the town took it over and used it as a jail cell for a while.
Another group, the Connecticut Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), also uses the Memorial Hall for their meetings.
Past Gatherings in the GAR Hall
The Grand Army of the Republic Hall has hosted many important gatherings over the years. Here are some of the reunions held for different Connecticut regiments:
- August 9, 1892: Reunion of the 5th Connecticut Regiment
- September 16, 1893: Reunion of the 14th Connecticut Regiment
- August 18, 1896: Reunion of the 25th Connecticut Regiment
- September 17, 1909: Reunion of the 14th Connecticut Regiment
- September 20, 1920: Reunion of the 11th Connecticut Regiment
See also
- Grand Army of the Republic Hall (disambiguation), listing of halls in numerous places
- National Civil War Museum
