Grand Army of the Republic Museum & Library

Grand Army of the Republic Museum & LibraryGrand Army of the Republic Museum & LibraryGrand Army of the Republic Museum & Library

Grand Army of the Republic Museum & Library

Grand Army of the Republic Museum & LibraryGrand Army of the Republic Museum & LibraryGrand Army of the Republic Museum & Library

(215) 289-6484

Welcome to Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum & Library

Welcome to Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum & LibraryWelcome to Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum & LibraryWelcome to Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum & Library

OUR MISSION

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The mission of the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum & Library is to preserve the heritage and history of the Civil War era through the presentation of historical programs, forums and exhibitions designed to promote a better understanding of American history.

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.


GARMUSLIB1866@GMAIL.COM

WITH CONCERN FOR THE CURRENT HEALTH EMERGENCY, THE MUSEUM IS NOW CLOSED TO ALL GUESTS & TOURS

WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH & VIRTUAL HISTORIC PROGRAMS

BECOME A MUSEUM MEMBER - KEEP HISTORY ALIVE

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 !!



Membership application 2021 (docx)Download

HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

RESEARCH ASSISTANCE

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 do request that those with inquiries please consider joining the museum as a member, or making a donation to allow us to continue to provide our research services.



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MUSEUM SCHEDULED EVENTS

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MUSEUM HOURS AND TIMES

We  sincerely regret with concern for the health of our visitors and volunteers the museum is closed to visitors and tours at this time.

 

MUSEUM SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

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.

 

MARCH 7, 2021 VIRTUAL HISTORICAL PROGRAM

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

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP MARCH 21, 2021

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 

garmuslib1866@gmail.com

APRIL 11, 2021 VIRTUAL HISTORICAL PROGRAM

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.

READ OUR OUTSTANDING JOURNAL

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.

GAR Scout_summer_2018 (pdf)Download
GAR Scout_fall_2020 (2) (pdf)Download

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

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THE CIVIL WAR

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.

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THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (G.A.R.)

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.

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THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR (SUVCW)

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."

THE MUSEUM

POST 2 COLLECTION

GEN. MEADE & OLD BALDY

GEN. MEADE & OLD BALDY

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Our historic collection has its foundation in the Memorial Hall Museum of G. A. R. Post 2 of Philadelphia.  

GEN. MEADE & OLD BALDY

GEN. MEADE & OLD BALDY

GEN. MEADE & OLD BALDY

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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.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN ROOM

GEN. MEADE & OLD BALDY

ABRAHAM LINCOLN ROOM

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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.

FIRST FLOOR EXHIBITS

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

ABRAHAM LINCOLN ROOM

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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. 

ATKINSON MEETING ROOM

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

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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.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

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The museum is home to a singularly historic collection of relics and artifacts of the Union veterans of the Civil War.

THE LIBRARY

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BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS

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.

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GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

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.

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MUSEUM ARCHIVES

Our archives house a substantial number of 19th and 20th century contemporary documents, newspapers, photographs and other GAR Post and veterans records.  

OUR HISTORY

THE HISTORY OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC CIVIL WAR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

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.

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THE COLLECTION

MEMBERS OF THE MUSEUM BOARD

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


GARMUSLIB1866@gmail.com

Contact Us

Better yet, see us in person!

EMAIL garmuslib1866@gmail.com



Grand Army of the Republic Museum & Library

4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124, US

(215) 289-6484

MUSEUM HOURS - PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE MUSEUM FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION

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

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