Civil War exhibit opens at Colley Tavern
This life-like figure (top) is of Kate McBride, a young worker from the Allegheny Arsenal, who represents women and children who toiled on the home front to support the Union efforts. This is part of the Heinz History Center’s “The Civil War in Pennsylvania’’ opening at the Abel Colley Tavern during the National Road Festival. The uniformed figure represents This Martin Delany, a Pittsburgh abolitionist who was one of the first African Americans admitted to Harvard Medical School and later became the highest ranking African American in the Civil War. “Dog Jack,” a brown and white mixed bulldog and mascot of the Niagara Engine Company, followed the men when they enlisted in Company F of the 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regimental history records that Jack was present in all the major battles-Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and many others. Captured twice, he served six months in prison at Richmond before being exchanged for a Confederate soldier. Toward the end of the war Jack disappeared, perhaps stolen for his fancy silver collar. On the cover is Strong Vincent, who fought at the Battle Of Gettysburg.
This figure represents Tillie Pierce, a 15-year-old Gettysburg native who hauled buckets of water for thirsty soldiers, tore cloth into bandages and comforted the wounded at the battle of Gettysburg.
This is part of the Heinz History Center’s new traveling exhibit “The Civil War in Pennsylvania’’ that opens at the Abel Colley Tavern during the National Road Festival.
This life-like figure is of Kate McBride, a young worker from the Allegheny Arsenal, who represents women and children who toiled on the home front to support the Union efforts. This is part of the Heinz History Center’s “The Civil War in Pennsylvania’’ opening at the Abel Colley Tavern during the National Road Festival.
This life-like figure represents Martin Delany, a Pittsburgh abolitionist who was one of the first African Americans admitted to Harvard Medical School and later became the highest ranking African American in the Civil War. This is part of the Heinz History Center’s travelling exhibit “The Civil War in Pennsylvania’’ that opens at the Abel Colley Tavern during the National Road Festival.
Loyal and undemanding, dogs were common companions during the Civil War. “Dog Jack,” a brown and white mixed bulldog and mascot of the Niagara Engine Company, followed the men when they enlisted in Company F of the 102nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regimental history records that Jack was present in all the major battles-Fair Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and many others. Captured twice, he served six months in prison at Richmond before being exchanged for a Confederate soldier. Toward the end of the war Jack disappeared, perhaps stolen for his fancy silver collar.
During the 39th annual National Road Festival, a new traveling exhibit on the Civil War will open at the Abel Colley Tavern in Menallen Township as part of America’s commemoration of the war’s sesquicentennial.
“The Civil War in Pennsylvania” is a 500-square-foot exhibit created by the Sen. John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh in partnership with the statewide Pennsylvania Civil War 150 efforts. The exhibit premiered in Pittsburgh in March and is scheduled to travel to nearly 40 sites in western Pennsylvania over the next four years. It uses life-like figures, artifacts and museum panels to explain the state’s presence in the war.
Any Masich, president and chief executive officer of the history center, said in a prepared release, “More than 340,000 Pennsylvanians, including 8,600 African-American troops, served in the Union army, a number second to only New York state. Although the battles that determined the fate of the Union were not fought in western Pennsylvania, no life went untouched by the conflict as Pennsylvania played a critical role providing industrial might, agricultural bounty and natural resources for the war effort.”
The exhibit officially opens in Fayette County on May 19 and will run through June 13 at the Colley Tavern, which is located on the Historic National Road about a mile west of Searights Tollhouse. The tavern will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
The Fayette County Historical Society, which owns and operates the tavern as a museum and its headquarters, also will offer a companion display that features memorabilia of Fayette County residents involved in the Civil War. The artifacts include original letters written by local soldiers who joined the war at the present-day site of Uniontown Area High School and a medal of honor awarded to Francis Morrison of Ohiopyle.
“We’re delighted we have the opportunity to not only host an important exhibit but that we will be able to present memorabilia from soldiers from Fayette County,” said Chris Buckelew, president of the Fayette County Historical Society. “We’re hoping that people appreciate the contributions that Fayette County made towards saving the Union and the struggles that people went through.”
“The Civil War in Pennsylvania” includes four life-like figures: Strong Vincent, a young attorney from Erie who rallied Union troops at Little Round Top at Gettysburg; Martin Delany, a Pittsburgh abolitionist who was one of the first blacks admitted to Harvard Medical School and later the highest-ranking African American in the Civil War; Kate McBride, a young worker from the Allegheny Arsenal, who represents the women and children who toiled on the home front to support the Union efforts; and Tillie Pierce, a 15-year-old Gettysburg native who hauled buckets of water for thirsty soldiers, tore cloth into bandages and comforted the wounded after the battle.
The exhibit contains several artifacts, including a Civil War-era Enfield rifle, paper cartridges and a collection of minie balls similar to what was created at the Allegheny Arsenal.
It will cover a variety of topics told from a western Pennsylvanian perspective, including slavery, efforts on the home front, the importance of women, the role of Pittsburgh as the “Arsenal of the Union,” and the impact of the battle of Gettysburg.
Knaps Independent Battery will appear at Colley Tavern from noon to 5 p.m. May 20 and will offer artillery demonstrations.
Searights Tollhouse, also operated by the historical society, will be open for tours and serve tollhouse cookies during the National Road Festival. Admission is $1 but children younger than age 12 will be admitted free.
The Fayette County Historical Society will charge an admission for the Abel Colley Tavern, but admission to the Civil War exhibit is free. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students and free for children 12 and younger.