“In the Wake of Gettysburg: Retreat and Aftermath” was the title of the Seminary Ridge Museum’s Annual Symposium held on Saturday. The sold-out event brought a record number of attendees: 95 in-person and 90 virtual viewers.
Peter Miehl, Museum Executive Director and one of the event’s speakers, shared his excitement for the day. “I love engaging with people. That’s why we’re here. The best part is the fact that we have 180 people that are with us, and we’re here because people want to learn and want to engage with us; the best part has been the response,” he said.
The symposium, co-hosted by the museum and the Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, drew visitors from as far as Ireland and the Netherlands.
“This year’s symposium has brought increasing numbers of engaged listeners and war scholars to the event. It also acts as a great way to kick-off the 2024 Gettysburg season at Seminary Ridge,” said Miele. “The symposium is as a place to see both old and new faces on the Seminary grounds as the bustle of the season drums back up.
“The symposium is our first major event of the year. It is an exciting signal for everything that is to come,” said Rob Williams, the museum’s outreach director.
About the Symposium
The Annual Symposium has been part of the Museum’s life since 2014, with virtual options recently offered to allow for a greater number of attendees.
The museum first partnered with the Battle of Gettysburg Podcast in 2022. “Partnering with the podcast has “really created a draw that has taken the symposium to an entirely new level,” said Williams.
Symposium speakers covered topics including “Mr. Sickles Goes to Washington,” “A Scene of So Much Sorrow and Anguish: Gettysburg’s Humanitarian Crisis,” “Glorious Fourth: The Army of the Potomac, July 4, 1863,” “From Gettysburg to Great Britain,” “Gettysburg in the Press: News Coverage after the Battle,” and “Mayhem in Maryland: War Comes to Hub City.”
The academic symposium covers topics that aren’t usually discussed, providing a unique experience for many listeners that goes far beyond the “who shot who” of the Gettysburg Battle.
“The symposium brings passion and excitement like this into the discussion of the Civil War. This is an event unlike many other things you get in Gettysburg, so we are honored to be able to offer it and have it here,” said Williams.
Stefany Kaminski, intern, is a Senior at Gettysburg College from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a History and English major with a Writing Concentration and a Civil War Era Studies and Classics minor. Outside of academics, she is a member of two historical journals at the college, on the cheerleading team, and a former executive member of Alpha Delta Pi.