On the weekend of Memorial Day, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center will host the Civil War Dance Foundation, which will showcase original weapons used in the American Civil War.
The foundation will return to the museum on Saturday, May 25, with artifacts on display and dance demonstrations. On Monday, May 27, visitors can view the “Guns of Gettysburg.”
One of the main attractions of the event is the opportunity for visitors to view a wide range of original weapons from the Civil War era, including dance cards, hand fans, Victorian jewelry, 19th-century photographs, and Grand Army of the Republic memorabilia. In addition, the Civil War Dance Foundation will be performing demonstrations of common Civil War dances using period costumes and props.
The “Guns of Gettysburg” display, which opens on Monday, May 27, in the Group Lobby, will include pre-war weapons, U.S. Rifle-Musket series, imported arms, breechloaders, handguns, and edged weapons. Historians dressed in period attire will explain the history of these weapons and how they influenced the outcome of the war. The exhibition will also focus on the role of women and children in manufacturing ammunition and the hundreds of casualties who resulted from accidents during this time.
The Civil War Dance Foundation is committed to providing educational outreach opportunities for visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. The unique artifacts display and dance demonstrations offered by the foundation are sure to entertain and educate guests of all ages.