HARRISBURG, PA January 3, 2001 - Today The National Civil War Museum formally announced that their doors would swing open, appropriately enough, on Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, 2001. An afternoon ceremony will commence at 2:30 PM with a formal program, a sculpture unveiling, and a ribbon cutting that will highlight the long-awaited event.

For Mayor Stephen R. Reed the day will mark the realization of a dream. "This has been a long time coming," Reed said, "but I think it will be worth the wait. For the first time in better than 135 years the country has a truly national memorial to the three million of our countrymen who served, and the 728,000 who died, in America's Civil War."

Reed, Founder of the Museum, began a multi-year collecting effort as the foundation for the institution. "We are the only Museum in the country that attempts to relate the story of America's greatest tragedy. Other Civil War collections relate to a battlefield, a historic house, or a famous leader. The National Civil War Museum is truly "national" in scope, without prejudice or undue emphasis to either side in the conflict."

The Museum itself is a handsome, columned brick structure that commands the high ground overlooking Harrisburg. Visible for miles in any direction, the 65,000 square foot facility houses exhibit galleries, a full-service dining area, a gift shop, multi-purpose rooms for educational functions, and a collection of some 12,000 objects.

The collection has long been the talk of the Civil War community. Items surely to be featured in the exhibits are the one-time personal possessions of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. grant, Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan, George Pickett, and Jeb Stuart, alongside those of the common soldier's, "Johnny Reb" and "Billy Yank." "I am confident," said Reed, "that the public will see a balanced collection, and a factual portrayal, that they will long remember."

Exhibits within the galleries have been shrouded in secrecy during the course of their installation. That installation has also been the source of a delay in the Museum's opening. "It will be worth the wait." Promised the Museum CEO, George E. Hicks. "Our exhibits will feature the traditional array of artifacts, some life-size dioramas with life-like mannequins, some interactive displays, several sound and light presentations, and audio visual programs. This is real people, real humanistic history at its best. You will come face-to face with the participants, share their concerns, their fears, and their emotions."

It is the scope of the exhibits that seems to please Reed the most. "This is the largest Civil War Museum in America. It is one of, if not the best collection, in our Nation, and we are the only Museum in America to tackle the sensitive and emotionally charged issue of slavery in these United States.

About the slavery exhibit, Reed commented further, "We are not shrinking from the subject. It is the darkest mark, and the deepest scar, on our national heritage. Our exhibit places it in the context of our heritage as an emotionally charged issue that led to divisiveness, to fisticuffs in the halls of Congress, and ultimately to war. It was a demeaning, dehumanizing, and humiliating experience. Perhaps now people will come to ask themselves, "How could we do that to another human being?"

Reed's passion for American history is second only to his love for his Capital city of Harrisburg. This five-term Mayor has been at the helm to lead the resurgence of a City once floundering in economic turmoil. Today, Harrisburg is a maturing tourist destination in South Central Pennsylvania. Under Reed's leadership, two national chain hotels have established a presence for hospitality in the City's epicenter. The Susquehanna River Waterfront, City Island Park, a state-of-the-art baseball park for the Harrisburg Senators, the sparkling new Whitaker Science Center, the Susquehanna Art Museum, the historic district, the Broad Street Market and The National Civil War Museum are all within a mile-and-a-half of City Hall and downtown hotels.

"Working together, this community has accomplished quite a bit," Reed said. "We've come a long, long way, but there is more work to be done."

"The National Civil War Museum will be of significant help to the City. It was funded by a $16.2 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. This Museum will help mark the City of Harrisburg as a bonafide tourist attraction. We are eternally grateful to the Commonwealth's Legislature, to Senator Jeffrey Piccola, Representative Ron Buxton, and most especially to Governor Tom Ridge.

The National Civil War Museum is open seven days a week on a 9-5 schedule Monday through Friday, and 10-5 on weekends and holidays. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Admission fees are affordable. A special family rate of $20.00 makes for an inexpensive outing of entertainment and education. Generally, visitors should allow two hours for a leisurely visit. Adult admission is $7.00; seniors are $6.00, and $5.00 for students. Children under the age of 6 are admitted free. More information about the Museum is available at the Museum's web site at www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org. The Museum may be contacted directly at (717) 260-1861, or 1-866-BLU-GRAY. The Museum's mailing address is: The National Civil War Museum, P.O. Box 1861, Harrisburg, PA, 17105-1861.

About The National Civil War Museum

The National Civil War Museum is a permanent, nonprofit educational institution created to promote the preservation of material culture and sources of information which are directly relevant to the American Civil War of 1861-1865 and the aftermath period of the war as related to Civil War Veteran's service organizations including the Grand Army of the Republic, United Confederate Veterans and the Daughters of the Confederacy to 1920.

The National Civil War Museum
1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park
Harrisburg, PA 17103

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm

Admission
Adults . . . . . . . $7
Seniors . . . . . . $6
Students . . . . . $5
Families . . . . . $20

Contact Information
Debra Lavelle
Director of Marketing
The National Civil War Museum
1 Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park
Harrisburg, PA 17103
(717) 260-1861 ext. 1201