HISTORY OF THE Grand Army of the Republic CIVIL WAR Museum

The veterans of Post 2 of Philadelphia, Grand Army of the Republic purchased a building at 667 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia.  The building was called Memorial Hall.  As time progressed and other G. A. R. posts throughout the city and nation began to close, the veterans presented their personal memorabilia and post records to be maintained in Post 2 Memorial Hall.

The Philadelphia Camp Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) was incorporated in 1926 as a charitable and fraternal group.  This Camp was separate and distinct from the veterans of Post 2.

In 1927, the veterans of Post 2 recognized that a successor was required in order to preserve the collection.   Camp 200, SUVCW was chartered in 1927.  Post 2 then sold Memorial hall and its full contents to Camp 200 (SUVCW) for $1.00.

Camp 200 kept the corporate name unchanged. 

Finding that finances to maintain this large building were dwindling, Memorial Hall was sold and closed in 1958.  

Members of Camp 200, SUVCW purchased the building at 4278 Griscom Street and brought as many of the relics and other memorabilia as possible to the new building.

Camp 200 was dissolved in the mid-1970's.  In 1979, Elmer (Bud) Atkinson and several others formed a new Sons camp,  Anna M. Ross Camp 1, (SUVCW).   

In the 1980's Bud and Margaret Atkinson had a vision and used their own funds to refurbish Griscom Street and create a new museum.  The non-profit G.A.R. Civil War Museum & Library began greeting visitors and researchers in 1985.  They continued to use the original 1926 corporate name, Philadelphia Camp Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.  

In 1990, Company C, 28th PA reenactment unit was formed at the museum as a separate entity.

In July, 2022 the museum began greeting visitors and researchers at its new location, the historic (1805) Lewis-Pattison House  in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia.