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Civil War Resources

If you're curious about other opportunities in the area, look no further. There are a number of resources that will help you find what you're looking for. For teachers and students, we offer links to the Mariners' Museum and PBS' Civil War In the Classroom. Both sites offer information on the battles and events that took place. Lesson plans, classroom activities, and field trips for all ages can be found here, or you can come up with your own while you search. If you're a local interested in the Civil War history of the area or if you're someone who wants to learn more about the history, we can show you some books that are invaluable as a source. And if we've piqued your interest and you want to learn more about the Civil War in Virginia or the Peninsula Campaign as a whole, we offer links to some great websites.

Education | Books | Websites

Education

 

Whether you're a teacher looking to give to your students' education, a student looking for information or just somebody who wants to know more about the history in our area, the following links can help you find whatever you need.

 

The Mariners' Museum
Take a trip through history with the Mariners' Museum. For teachers, the Mariners' Museum offers workshops that cover the Age of Exploration, Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Battle of Hampton Roads. For students of all ages, lectures, field trips, summer camps, and online exhibitions allow you to immerse yourself in the maritime history. Programs are even offered for home schooled students.

 

PBS Civil War In the Classroom
Ken Burns' film The Civil War "wanted to tell the story of the bloodiest war in American history through the voices of the men and women who actually lived through it. Each of them has a story to tell and their lives are woven into the larger fabric of the war.

 

As you view portions of the series in your classroom, your students will meet men and women, many no older than they, for whom the war was a very personal experience. They will meet individuals like Elisha Hunt Rhodes and Sam Watkins who were just ordinary young men thrust into extraordinary circumstances that changed their lives forever. They will also meet the heroes of the Civil War, those who are said to have "made history", and continue to capture students' attention." (Description from the PBS Civil War website)

 

Books & Materials

 

Civil War Williamsburg, by Carson O. Hudson, Jr.
Civil War Williamsburg recounts the tragic, comic and mundane events that made up life in Williamsburg during the Union occupation of the city in 1862, after Williamsburg residents had been enthusiastic supporters of the confederacy. (description taken from Amazon.com)


Defend This Old Town: Williamsburg During the Civil War, by Carol Kettenburgh Dubbs
"Defend This Old Town is a riveting war epic of local scale and human dimensions. Taking its title from the cry raised in Williamsburg as the Federal army approached in 1862, Carol Dubbs's narrative sweeps us into the lives of residents of this small historic city from the secession of Virginia is 1861 to Lee's surrender four years later. Williamsburg's Civil War ordeal has never before been told in such depth." (description taken from Amazon.com)

 

Civil War Williamsburg Brochure
Be sure to get a copy of our Civil War Williamsburg brochure.  This publication contains information on various points, people and places of interest, including:  Earthen Forts, Fort Magruder, The College of William and Mary's Wren Building, Jamestown Island, and more.  This brochure also contains maps for the Battle of Williamsburg, the Siege of Yorktown and the entire the region.  You may either download a copy of the brochure or you may request one via email. 

York County - Schedule of Events
For the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, York County has various activities and programs planned.  Download a copy of their complete schedule here or visit the county's Civil War website (see below) for more information.
 

Civil War Websites

 

General Area Sites

 

  • Virginia Civil War
    The Virginia Sesquicentennial of American Civil War Commission's official website

  • Civil War Traveler
    Search for Civil War information, events and more by location

  • Virginia Places
    Features an extensive collection of Civil War links

  • PBS - The Civil War
    Features information on Ken Burns's documentary, The Civil War, plus additional educational resources about the war and classroom activities

  • National Park Service - 150th Anniversary
    Includes a calendar of all anniversary programs, as well as historical features and timelines designed to illustrate the relevancy of events that occurred 150 years ago. 

Regional Information Websites

 

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