WE ARE THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA DEDICATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. THE G. A. R. MUSEUM IS ALSO A 501(c)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC CIVIL WAR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY IS THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA SOLELY DEDICATED TO PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND TELLING THE STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR.
OUR MUSEUM IS IN THE 1796 GEORGIAN MANSION OF COLONIAL PHYSICIAN DR. JOHN RUAN.
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW TO ASSURE THE FUTURE OF OUR HISTORIC COLLECTION.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS IMPORTANT HISTORY TO BE FORGOTTEN AND ALLOW THE SINGULAR COLLECTION TO BECOME THE REAL LIFE VERSION OF "RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK" AND DISAPPEAR INTO OBSCURITY.
IF YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR HISTORY AND AGREE THAT OUR AMERICAN STORY MUST BE TOLD TO FUTURE GENERATIONS, THEN PLEASE PRINT THE MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP DONATION FORM BELOW AND RETURN IT TO THE MUSEUM WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP DONATION.
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO PRINT OR DOWNLOAD OUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION.
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO ASSURE THAT THE MUSEUM WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE A HISTORICAL RESOURCE FOR MANY YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
LET US ALL DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP AMERICAN HISTORY ALIVE !!
The museum possesses an outstanding collection of books, documents and photographs. Our archives include records of a number past Grand Army of the Republic Posts including chronicles, histories, reports and registers.
We also have a significant collection of regimental histories and other books related to many aspects of the Civil War.
The collection includes a significant number of personal memoirs, biographies, and a large collection related to African-American history.
The museum also has access to many online services that materially support historical and genealogical research.
Our museum Historian and Research Associate remain available to assist you with your inquires.
Please contact the museum either by USPS:
G. A. R. Museum, 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124;
OR by email garmuslib1866@gmail.com
We sincerely regret with concern for the health of our visitors and volunteers the museum is closed to visitors and tours at this time.
WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A SERIES OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AS DESCRIBED BELOW:
FOR FUTURE UPDATES AND INFORMATION PLEASE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MUSEUM BY DOWNLOADING THE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION.
ON MARCH 7, 2021 AT 1:00 PM; THE MUSEUM WILL PRESENT GUIDE AND HISTORIAN JANE PETERS ESTES "WOMEN'S LIFESTYLES OF THE 1860'S."
MS PETERS ESTES IS A FAVORITE AND WELL KNOWN PRESENTER OF TOPICS DISCUSSING THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WOMEN DURING THE CIVIL WAR ERA.
Topics include fashion, health problems, career choices, and the typical lifestyle of the 19th century woman.
TO OBTAIN A VIRTUAL SEAT FOR THIS OUTSTANDING PROGRAM PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO THE MUSEUM'S EMAIL ADDRESS: garmuslib1866@gmail.com
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY ON THE ZOOM PLATFORM ON SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021
AT 1:00 pm. THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MUSEUM AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE WILL BE DISCUSSED. ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM ARE INVITD TO PARTICIPATE.
PLEASE SEND A REQUEST TO ATTEND THE MEETING TO THE MUSEUM AT
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021 AT 1:00 PM; THE MUSEUM WILL PRESENT HISTORIAN AND PAST MUSEUM PRESIDENT HUGH BOYLE WITH A SPECIAL PROGRAM ABOUT PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
The museum is most proud of our outstanding journal, THE GAR SCOUT.
Each journal has news about what's new at the museum, feature articles, and Civil War & GAR history.
Please click below to read our current GAR SCOUT.
The great conflict that was the Civil War began with the firing on Fort Sumter and ended with the surrender of the Confederate armies. During the four years of the war over three miliion men wore a military uniform.
The Grand Army of the Republic was composed of any veteran who had fought for the Union during the four years of the war. It was founded on April 6, 1866 by Major Benjamin F. Stephenson, a Surgeon who served in the 124th Illinois Infantry. By the 1890's the G. A. R. had a membership of over 450,000 Union veterans & 7,500 Posts throughout the United States.
In 1878, the veterans of Anna M. Ross Post 94 of Philadelphia formed the Anna M. Ross Camp 1 of Sons of Union Veterans to assure that the legacy of the men who fought for the union would never be forgotten, and to "inculcate patriotism and love of country ... among all the people of this land."
Our historic collection has its foundation in the Memorial Hall Museum of G. A. R. Post 2 of Philadelphia.
The Meade Room honors the Hero of Gettysburg & Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Key to the room is the head of OLD BALDY General Meade's war horse.
The Lincoln Room hosts a singular number of historic Lincoln relics including the HANDCUFFS found in John Wilkes Booth's trunk, & a documented strip of the PILLOWCASE with Lincoln's blood.
Our two first floor rooms display changing exhibits from our collection. Highlights include one of only two remaining pieces of the Andersonville Prison stockade, a John Brown Pike, weapons, artillery display, & a special display of Gettysburg relics and memorabilia.
Along with other original art work, our second floor meeting room has many original oil paintings of Civil War generals that once graced the walls of the Post 2 Memorial Hall.
The museum is home to a singularly historic collection of relics and artifacts of the Union veterans of the Civil War.
Our over 7,000 volume library and document archive possess a wealth of resources including regimental & general histories, biographies, & many topics including African American, the Navy, medicine, & battle histories.
Our library has access to many archival and on-line materials to assist you with genealogical and family history research.
Our Research Associate and Historian are available to assist you with your research.
Our archives house a substantial number of 19th and 20th century contemporary documents, newspapers, photographs and other GAR Post and veterans records.
During the 19th century the veterans organized over twenty Posts in the City of Philadelphia. The largest Post hall was the memorial Hall established by Post 2 at 667 N. 12th Street. The Post 2 Hall was a magnificent structure composed on multiple meeting rooms, a grand hall, and an extensive collection of artifacts, relics, photographs and memorabilia.
In the mid 1960's the Post 2 Hall was closed and is no longer standing. Several members of the Sons of Union Veterans were able to bring a portion of the vast collection to the Ruan House, the 1796 home of physician Dr. John Ruan that is now the home of the G. A. R. Museum & Library.
In the mid-1980's, Margaret and Elmer "Bud" Atkinson of Philadelphia had a vision of creating a Civil War museum to honor and remember the veterans. The museum then opened for its first visitors in 1985. Since that date, the museum has hosted thousands of visitors and presented historical programs and speakers.
TODAY WE ARE THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA DEDICATED TO THE CIVIL WAR. WE ARE ALSO A 501(c)3 NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
JOSEPH PERRY - PRESIDENT & LIBRARIAN
ANTHONY WASKIE, PhD - VICE PRESIDENT & HISTORIAN
MARY ANN HARTNER - SECRETARY
HERB KAUFMAN - TREASURER & CURATOR
THOMAS DONNELLY
ANN KAUFFMAN
FRED ROSSO
KATHLEEN SMITH
WALT LAFTY, RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR
4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124, US
THE MUSEUM HOLDS A SPECIAL MONTHLY OPEN HOUSE PRESENTATION ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM
NOON TO 3:30 PM.
THE MUSEUM IS ALSO AVILABLE FOR RESEARCH AND TOURS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOONS, FROM 12:30 TO 3:00 PM.
THE MUSEUM IS ALSO OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
Copyright © 2021 Grand Army of the Republic Museum & Library - All Rights Reserved.
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