Civil War 150th Anniversary – Events in the Washington DC Area

From 2011-2015, America will mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Washington DC will play a key role in the commemoration offering special exhibitions and events. The Civil War 150th Anniversary events began in Spring 2010 with the first installment of a two-part exhibition at the National Archives. During the Civil War, Washington DC took a leading role in the quest for equality. Civil rights issues, from marriage equality to immigration reform, continue to draw people to Washington DC today. Cultural attractions, historic landmarks, cultural organizations and historic sites throughout the region have joined together for a unique promotion, entitled “Civil War to Civil Rights.”

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War coincides with the following significant developments in Washington DC:

• The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum (opened in Summer 2011)
  
  
• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial (opened in Summer 2011)
  
  
• National Museum of Civil War Medicine (opened a location in downtown DC in 2011)
  
  
• Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (opened in February 2012)
  
  
• Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture (projected opening in 2015)

Major Events, Special Tours and Exhibits

_{Note: This list will be updated with events throughout the four year sesquicentennial commemoration.}

Ongoing - Capitol Visitor Center. Take a tour entitled "Capitol and the Congress During the Civil War." The tour is offered Monday through Friday at 3:30 p.m. and does not require reservations. With stops at the Old Supreme Court Chamber and the Old Senate Chamber, this special 45-minute tour explores how the Capitol was used during the Civil War, critical debates that took place during the Civil War, and key judicial decisions made during this time period.

Through 2015 - National Portrait Gallery
8th and F Streets NW., Washington, DC. The National Portrait Gallery continues to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865, with rotating exhibitions, many of which draw heavily on the museum’s permanent collection. These presentations, which mark each year of the war, complement the installation of objects from the Civil War that are on long-term display in the exhibition “American Origins.”

September 14-15, 2012 - 150th Anniversary of the Battle of South Mountain - includes living history presentations, demonstrations, special exhibits, concerts, and more. Opening ceremonies begin on September 14 at 10:00 a.m. Special programs will also be hosted in Middletown and Burkittsville.

Nov. 16, 2012 - April 28, 2013 -"The Civil War and American Art” - Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition examines how America’s artists represented the impact of the Civil War and its aftermath. Winslow Homer, Eastman Johnson, Frederic Church and Sanford Gifford—four of America’s finest artists of the era—anchor the exhibition. "The Civil War and American Art” will include approximately 60 paintings, vintage photographs and battlefield photography.

Additional Events Around the Region

Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania, the site of the American Civil War's most famous battle, will host special commemorative events through 2015. See a Calendar of Civil War Anniversary Events in Gettysburg

All of the national battlefields will also be hosting special commemorative events. They are beautiful historic sites to visit and pay tribute to American war heroes. Read about the Civil War Battlefields Near Washington DC

Civil War Websites

Civi War to Civil Rights

Civil War 150th Anniversary

National Park Service Civil War

Virginia Civil War

Heart of the Civil War