History is on the move in Virginia as the Civil War 150 History Mobile rolls into Petersburg for a three-day visit Thursday, November 13, Friday, November 14, and Saturday, November 15. The exhibit, an initiative of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, will be located at the Petersburg Public Library, 201 W. Washington St. On Thursday, the exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. for the Petersburg Public School children and from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. for the public. The exhibit will be open on Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. for Petersburg Public School children and in conjunction with Friday for the Arts!, it will be open from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. for the public. On Saturday, it will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission for the History Mobile is free.
This event is presented in conjunction with the City of Petersburg’s Friday for the Arts! The History Mobile will be open to the public on Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A Panel exhibit, An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia; will be featured inside the Petersburg Public Library Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 10 – 24. Andy Talkov, Vice President for Programs, Virginia Historical Society, will be the guest speaker at the library on Friday, November 14 at 6:30 pm. On Saturday, November 15, The Legacy Project, a statewide document digitization program, will be at the library from 9:30 am until 5 p.m. scanning historical letters, photographs, diaries, and much more. These historic materials must pertain to the Civil War (including Secession, early Reconstruction era, and Civil War Veterans). Materials may be from other states and may relate to either Confederate or Union soldiers.
The History Mobile uses immersive spaces and interactive exhibits to draw together stories of the Civil War and emancipation from the viewpoints of those who experienced it across Virginia—young and old, enslaved and free, soldier and civilian.
Visitors will encounter history in ways they may have never experienced before. The History Mobile exhibit is divided into four sections: Battlefront, Home Front, Journey to Freedom, and Loss-Gain-Legacy. From the bewildering sense of chaos experienced by soldiers, to the last letter written by a dying son to his father after sustaining a mortal wound, to a hushed conversation between a husband and wife considering the great risks and rewards of fleeing to freedom, the History Mobile presents the stories of real people in Virginia whose lives were shaped by the historic events of the 1860s, and invites visitors to imagine, “What Would You Do?”
The Civil War 150 History Mobile crosses the state visiting museums, schools, and special events. Its tour began in July 2011, and since then it has made over 120 stops and attracted visitors from every state and a number of other countries.
In addition to learning more about Virginia's history, the History Mobile also provides visitors with information from Virginia Tourism about the many historic sites and destinations that they can explore today. Interactive maps and touch-screen kiosks located at the History Mobile help visitors to easily plan their next trip.
The HistoryMobile was named a 2013 Leadership in History Award of Merit winner by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history. The Award of Merit is one of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions of achievement in state and local history.
The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission was created by the General Assembly to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Virginia. In addition to the History Mobile, the Commission sponsors programs that include a major gallery exhibition that will be installed at seven museums across Virginia, a statewide document digitization program, a highly-acclaimed annual Signature Conference series, an Emmy-nominated documentary, and much more.
More information on the Civil War 150 History Mobile and the initiatives of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission can be found at www.VirginiaCivilWar.org. For information on visiting Civil War sites throughout Virginia go to www.Virginia.org/CivilWar.
For more information on City events, services and programs, please visit: www.PetersburgVa.Gov.