National Civil War Museum

The National Civil War Museum is located in the unlikely location of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Having visited the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, I was a little skeptical about how fairly a museum in the, well, north, would present the war between the states.

With that air of skepticism in mind, we decided to check out the nation’s Civil War Museum on our way home from a little jaunt to nearby Hershey. We made our way up the large hill in eastern Harrisburg to the museum. It’s a bit tricky to find, so ditch the GPS & use a map instead. Adults are $10 admission, seniors $9 – the price is admission is $10 well spent.

Allow yourself about two to three hours to get through the museum. The majority of the exhibits present equal information about both the north & the south – many exhibits are designed to even look similar for both sides. After learning about slavery & the conditions that brought the war about, you get into the actual battles of the war.

There are videos along the way which do a good job describing the battles in sets of three or four: short, simple explanations that someone who is not a history buff could still understand. Interactive displays & battlefields laid out in miniature characters help visitors understand how each battle unfolded.

The last exhibit goes a step further than other war museums: after the war. Make sure & check out the great video on the Blue & Gray reunion that took place at Gettysburg years later. There are also excellent exhibits throughout on battlefield medicine, the drum & bugle corps in the war, & Army chaplains.

Even if you’re not a big history fan like I am, the museum is one of the more interesting that I’ve visited. A trip here would be a great companion with a stop by the Gettysburg National Battlefield, which is about 45 minutes away.

If you go, know… 

– When you’re planning your trip, don’t be fooled by the elementary-level website – the museum is full of interactive displays.

– Take a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful views from the museum, which looks out along the Pennsylvania valley.

– Looking to grab lunch before or afterward? The Appalachian Brewing Company, located about 10 minutes away, is great. The food is good, a step above normal brewery food, & the beer brewed on site is fantastic.

– Haven’t had enough history? Stop by the gorgeous Pennsylvania State Capital building nearby in downtown Harrisburg.

Thanks to the Hershey & Harrisburg Visitors Bureau for our complimentary tickets to the museum.
However, all opinions here are my own. Yes, I really am a pretty big history nerd.