Get an up-close look at Lincoln Presidential Library’s rare Civil War relics
‘Tales from the Vault’ takes place at noon, Dec. 12

 

[December 10, 2019] 

More than 150 years after the bullets stopped flying, the battles of the Civil War hold a special place in American memory. On Dec. 12, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will open its vault to display concrete reminders from a few of those bloody battles.

This “Tales from the Vault” event includes weapons, like Minie balls, cannonballs and bayonets. Historic maps will show how troops were reduced to tidy, bloodless lines on paper. Personal letters preserve the memories of men who fought despite their fears and doubts.

In addition, Christian McWhirter, a historian at the Lincoln Presidential Library, will provide details and context about these amazing items that are rarely shown to the public.

“The technology and tactics of the war made its combat especially brutal and costly,” McWhirter said. “Looking at the weapons, you can imagine the damage they would do to the human body. The letters drive the point home – showing how a Civil War battle was pretty nasty business.”

The free presentation, offered in conjunction with the Illinois State Museum, takes place at noon, Thursday, Dec. 12, at the presidential library (112 N. Sixth St., Springfield).

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum uses a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship to immerse visitors in Lincoln’s life and times. The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to all aspects of Illinois history.

For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov.

[Christopher Wills]