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.