Attention all Civil War buffs! If you want to be a part of unveiling history, you won’t want to miss the reveal of the New Jersey State Museum’s latest additions to their Civil War Flag Collection.
When a flag is carried into battle, it is a tangible symbol of the troops it represents. Billowing in the wind, these flags serve as a representation of a soldier’s honor and pride. Flags were often utilized throughout the Civil War as a means of identifying different groups, as well as a tool to help lead soldiers into battle. Many of these flags belonged to infantrymen from right here in the Garden State, and offer incredible insights to the lives and legacies of the men who served. The New Jersey State Museum, which features an unrivaled collection of Civil War flags, now invites you to learn more about the lives for whom these flags flew.
On Saturday, July 22nd, the New Jersey State Museum welcomes you and your family to witness the unveiling of the latest addition to the museum’s Civil War Flag Collection exhibit. The event will kick off at 10am in the NJSM’s South Gallery. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from flag historian Dr. David Martin and Curator of Cultural History Nicholas Ciotola, who will be offering guests valuable insights into the history of the collection’s newest additions. The New Jersey State Museum is proud to introduce these five flags as some of the most storied in their entire catalogue.
In addition to viewing the flags, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy a new display of original pen-and-ink, watercolor drawings by a Union soldier who lost his right arm at the 1861 Battle of Bull Run. After the incident, this brave soldier had no choice but to learn to use his left hand for all of his daily tasks – including his art. His drawings feature an important post-war veterans reunion held in Deckertown, located in Sussex County. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see a Civil War field surgeon’s tools, courtesy of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
The Museum’s Civil War flag collection is a truly remarkable site, offering history enthusiasts from near and far the opportunity to witness a piece of history firsthand. After the conclusion of a war, flags were typically returned to the capital city of their original state. Upon their return to the state, the overwhelming majority of states have chosen to add these flags to their archives. New Jersey, however, is one of the few regions who actively chooses to display these artifacts to the public. It is a true privilege to be able to lay your eyes on this important relic of our past, so you will not want to miss the collection’s newest additions.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the exhibit, please contact the New Jersey State Museum at info.njsm@sos.nj.gov or (609) 292-6464 for more information. Don’t be afraid to let your history buff flag fly this summer, mark your calendars today!
