Georgia Southern University Marks 150th Anniversary of Civil War with Day of Living History Events, Artifact Displays and Roundtable Discussions

April 5, 2011

Georgia Southern University will commemorate the 150^thanniversary of the start of the Civil War during a day filled with living history, displays of priceless artifacts and roundtable discussions on Saturday, April 16.

“The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, in Charleston, S.C., and people around the United States will commemorate this time by learning more about the war and its impact on our country,” said Brent Tharp, director of the Georgia Southern Museum. “We are combining living history displays with exhibits of priceless Civil War artifacts unearthed by Georgia Southern University archaeology students. Roundtable discussions with archaeologists, researchers, and historians will provide people with insight into one of the most pivotal points in U.S. history.”

Visitors will be transported back in time as the University’s Sweetheart Circle is transformed into a Civil War encampment site.  Living history interpreters will re-enact scenes demonstrating artillery, musket firing, field surgery, blacksmithing, Civil War era-crafts and more. Inside the Museum, visitors can tour an exhibit of unique Civil War artifacts unearthed at the site of Camp Lawton in Millen, Ga. The artifacts were found last year by a group of Georgia Southern archaeology students working to pinpoint the boundaries of the Civil War’s largest prison camp. The group found dozens of artifacts, many of them personal items that belonged to Union soldiers held captive in the Confederate prison camp.

“The Georgia Southern University Museum has been proud to temporarily house this collection of rare artifacts,” said Tharp. “This is a perfect opportunity for visitors to see these pieces for themselves and even speak to the student researchers who unearthed them during one of our roundtable discussions.”

The day’s events will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Georgia Southern’s Sweetheart Circle and the Museum. Admission is $5 per person and includes both the encampment and museum. Admission is free of charge to Museum members and current Georgia Southern students with a valid student ID.

Tickets to the roundtable discussions, which include a box lunch, are $20 for the public and $15 for Museum members. Space for the roundtable discussions is limited. You may reserve a seat early by calling 912-478-5444. Proceeds will go towards supporting Georgia Southern University’s Camp Lawton archaeology and Museum Exhibition projects.

Roundtable Luncheon Discussions:

• The History of Camp Lawton, John Derden, Ph.D.
• Ingenuity and Persistence: The Artifacts of Camp Lawton, Kevin Chapman
• Let’s Get Dirty: Public Involvement at Camp Lawton, Amanda Morrow and Matt Newberry
• Teaching About Camp Lawton and the Civil War, Ruby Ashley and Mary Craft
• Finding Camp Lawton: How Do Archeologists Do What They Do? Sue Moore, Ph.D.