Tag: Grand Army of the Republic

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Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum’s New Location

After 63 years in our current building, we are excited to announce that the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum, the only museum in the Philadelphia area solely dedicated to the remembrance of the history of the Civil War, has a new historic home at 8110 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.
 
We are very pleased to have been able to relocate to another certified historic building in a far more accessible area of the city. 
 
To accomplish the immense task of moving the museum to our new location we will need your assistance and financial support
 
Packing and moving will be a monumental task over the next few months which will require the help of many.  If you can give some time as a volunteer to assist with the move, please contact the Museum by replying to this message:  garmuslib1866@gmail.com
 
The cost of archival packing and storage materials plus the additional cost of the actual move are quite extensive.  We require certified archival materials to assure that our historic collection is properly protected.  Please consider donating to the museum to support our efforts as we begin the move to our new location.
 
As a 503(C)3 non-profit organization, all donations payable to the “GAR Museum” are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.  Donations should continue to be sent to our current address, GAR Civil War Museum, 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124.
 
As of July 2, the Museum will be closed.  The Archive and Library will be open for research by appointment only.  We look forward to opening in the fall.
 
We invite you to become a part of the next chapter of the Museum’s history. 
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HISTORY’S MYSTERIES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND COLONIAL ERA

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Presents a New Program via ZOOM

 

Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m.

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND COLONIAL ERA – What they didn’t teach you in high school

by Historian & Educator – our own – Herb Kaufman

Many people love to read historical fiction, but this is historical reality.  Legends and lore have become a significant part of American history of the Revolutionary War and the colonial era.

 Among others, historical reality seeks to answer: “Who is Molly Pitcher and did she really fire a cannon at Monmouth” … “Did George Washington honestly have wooden teeth?” … “Where did Paul Revere actually ride?” …  “What really happened on the Fourth of July?” … “What is the true story of the Liberty Bell?”

The history of the American Revolution and the colonial era are full of lore, myths, half-truths and just plain inaccuracies that have become a part of American history.

Every day stories are repeated in schools, museums, and television programs because they are catchy, humorous or entertaining; but we are going to separate fact from fiction.

This program focuses on these mysterious, misrepresented and often imagined incidents and events.  You will learn the truth about the Revolutionary War and colonial myths, stories and events that they never taught you in high school.

Please send a request to reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation by replying to this e-mail at

garmuslib1866@gmail.com

You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation.

As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today!  We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum.

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Commodore Percival Drayton, Union Hero of the Civil War

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Presents a New Program via ZOOM

Commodore Percival Drayton, Union Hero of the Civil War and Philadelphia

SUNDAY, October 4, at 1:00 pm

Presented by:  Captain Jack Lieberman (USN, retired)

Please send a request to reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation by replying to this e-mail at  garmuslib1866@gmail.com

Percival Drayton was the son of a wealthy South Carolina Congressman William Drayton. He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1827, and served continuously up to the Civil War, being posted to stations that included the Mediterranean, the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Brazil, Paraguay and at the Naval Observatory, Washington, DC.   His older brother, Thomas Fenwick Drayton, was a West Point Graduate and a United States Army officer who remained loyal to the South and became a Confederate Brigadier General.  When the Civil War began Percival was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, but was soon given command of the warship “USS Pocahontas.”  He commanded the vessel in the successful Union Naval assault on Port Royal, South Carolina in November 1861.  In that action, he fired upon troops and positions commanded by his brother Thomas who was commanding Confederate troops on shore in a literal, classic instance of the   “BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER” phrase often used to describe the American Civil War.

He was promoted to Captain, US Navy in July 1862, and was assigned to Admiral David Farragut’s West Gulf Squadron and commanded Farragut’s flagship USS Hartford in the celebrated Naval assault and capture of Mobile Bay, Alabama in August 1864. The bay was heavily mined (tethered  mines at that time were called TORPEDOES).   Farragut ordered his fleet to charge the bay. When one of the Union Monitors struck a mine and sank, the other Union ships began to retreat.  Farragut could see the ships pulling back from his high perch, where he was lashed to the rigging of his flagship.   “What’s the trouble?” he shouted through his megaphone to the forward lookout.  “Torpedoes!” was shouted back.   “DAMN THE TORPEDOES” said Farragut, “FOUR BELLS – CAPTAIN DRAYTON, FULL SPEED AHEAD”   The bulk of the fleet then succeeded in entering the bay. Captain Drayton died August 4, 1865 and was buried in St John’s Church in Washington, DC, however his remains were exhumed three months later and he was re-buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia, on November 18, 1865, next to his father, William Drayton.

You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation.

As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today!  We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum

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Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum & Library Open House Program

Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 1:30 pm
Walt Lafty, Historian
‘Death in December’– the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee
The Battle of Stones River was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the Civil War. Of the major battles of the war, Stones River had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides, including a number of prominent Philadelphians.

Battle of Stones River from Wikimedia commons

FREE & Open to the public!
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC CIVIL WAR MUSEUM & LIBRARY
Historic Ruan House • 4278 Griscom Street• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19124 •
(215) 289-6484 • www.garmuslib.org
Off street parking in the rear of the Museum.
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General Meade Visits General Meade School

On May 31, 2019, Civil War General Meade visited the General George G. Meade School, 1600 North 18th Street in Philadelphia.

General George Meade is played by Andy Waskie, Vice President and Historian of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum in Frankford. He addressed 200 kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd and 5th grade students at the beginning of their annual end-of-school year “Play Day”.

The General’s spirited remarks were well received and many questions about the Civil War were answered.  The students received rewards for achieving reading goals, attendance and all around cooperation. The assembly program also included a class dance performance.

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In the afternoon the “Play Day” for the whole school included games, snacks and drinks that was fully funded by the General Meade Society of Philadelphia.