Tuesday, May 08, 2012
 
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'Life and Limb' Civil War exhibit at Old State Capitol May 14-June 23

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[May 08, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- The National Library of Medicine exhibit "Life and Limb: The Toll of the Civil War" will be on display May 14 through June 23 at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in downtown Springfield.

More than 3 million soldiers fought in the Civil War from 1861-1865. More than half a million died, and almost as many were wounded but survived. Hundreds of thousands were permanently disabled by battlefield injuries or surgery, which saved lives by sacrificing limbs. "Life and Limb: The Toll of the Civil War" explores the experiences of disabled Civil War veterans who served as symbols of the fractured nation and a stark reminder of the costs of the conflict.

The traveling six-panel exhibit was developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

The exhibit coincides with the annual Civil War Medical Encampment, sponsored by Memorial Medical Center, scheduled for June 8-10 at the Old State Capitol.

During the 1840s and 1850s, the Old State Capitol was the scene of debate over issues that led the nation to war in 1861. During the Civil War, the Statehouse was the center of the state's efforts at wartime mobilization. The Capitol also provided space for local events aiding the needs of local residents as well as soldier relief efforts.

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The Old State Capitol State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week through Labor Day.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]

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