Austin History Centery Civil War exhibit and opening program

April 27th, 6-8 pm Austin History Center, Austin

I'll have more details once the media advisory is finalized. Basically the program will be a discussion of what the various agencies and organizations are doing to commemorate the 150th and a brief presentation about Austin's role in the war to go along with the new exhibit "Strife in the City: Austin during the Civil War."

New Exhibit at the Austin History Center: “Strife in the City: Austin During the Civil War”

April 12 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War. As part of a nationwide initiative, called Civil War 150, the Austin History Center (AHC) presents a new exhibit, Strife in the City: Austin During the Civil War. The exhibit will be on display from April 25 until October 23, 2011 in the David Earl Holt Photo Gallery at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St. Historic photographs and documents from the Civil War era in Austin shed light on topics such as the political climate leading up to the start of the war, Austin’s contributions on the battlefield and on the home front, life in Austin during the war, and Austin’s role in the Reconstruction period. As a whole, Austin’s stance on the war was both typical and atypical of the southern experience. For example, while Texas voted overwhelmingly to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy, Travis County was one of a few counties to vote against secession, creating division within the community and even within families. Peruse the walls of the David Earl Holt Photo Gallery at the AHC and learn more about Austin's unique position during the Civil War. Strife in the City: Austin During the Civil War is free and open to the public. For more information please call 512-974-7480 or visit www.austintexas.gov/library.

To mark the opening of the exhibit, Strife in the City: Austin During the Civil War, the Austin History Center and the Texas Historical Commission (THC), will co-host a Texas Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Initiative program on Wednesday, April 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St. The program will showcase THC assets that tell the story of Texas during the Civil War and include a brief AHC presentation about Austin’s role in the war. This is the first of three Texas Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Initiative programs planned for 2011 across the state. The program is made possible by a grant from the Society of the Order of the Southern Cross. The Texas Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Initiative program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please call 512-463-5833 to reserve a space.