The sesquicentennial of the American Civil War has finally begun. All across the country, historical sites and organizations are planning special programs and improvements for the occasion. With our region the site of four major engagements of the Civil War, what better incentive for Fredericksburg to expand its acknowledgement of its role in the most pivotal event in American history?

One way to pay homage would be to establish a new national museum that tells the whole story of the lives of those who lived and died during the "Great Divide." It would also be a way to present and preserve the history of our region for generations to come.

The collection of more than 2,000 pieces is already here, waiting to be unveiled to an audience. It simply requires a proper venue to share it with the public.

The establishment of a venue to showcase this collection is the goal of the National Civil War Life Foundation. Our mission statement is: To operate an inclusive national museum and research center that preserves and interprets the human story of the American Civil War and connects the lives of all people of that era to the nation today.

Established in 2007, our goal is to tell the Civil War story with original artifacts as completely as possible and in an unbiased way. This story is about soldiers, both Union and Confederate, but it also is a story that would be incomplete by ignoring the experiences of the civilian population, black and white, free and enslaved.

The NCWLF has assembled a tremendous collection of Civil War-era artifacts that is unparalleled in scope and depth. No museum would be complete without the firearms and equipment of soldiers, but our collection also includes a treasure trove of artifacts that tell the story of how the civilians experienced the war in their own backyards. This includes the life and legacy of the African-American population, who are far too often forgotten when presenting Civil War memory.

One centerpiece of our diverse collection is a letter written by Amanda Holmes in 1859 to a Mrs. Harrison, who owned her children. Holmes had been the slave of an army officer who, when sent west, sold her to a man in St. Louis, who later freed her. In her attempt to reunite her family, Holmes writes, "I am writing to you to ask if you will not sell my children to me, and if you will not sell them I would like for you to hire them to me." This letter represents the tragedy of slavery and the heartbreaking separation of families. Our museum will fill in the details of Amanda Holmes' story and bring it to conclusion. Visitors will be able to relate directly to real people and not just a collection of artifacts.

The National Civil War Life Museum will be a source of pride to all the residents of Fredericksburg, and it will be a place of education and understanding to all who come here to visit the battlefields. It will also be another piston in our region's economic engine that will support both local patronage and tourism. Out-of-town visitors will likely stay in area hotels, eat in local restaurants, and shop in our stores. This is good for the whole city.

What will it take to make a museum like this a reality? As a foundation, we cannot make this happen without support from local government, area residents, and businesses. We therefore propose a joint effort, a public-private partnership, between Fredericksburg and the National Civil War Life Foundation to secure the funds needed to develop the museum and create engaging exhibits that will serve our visitors.

We stand ready to join in this effort to make Fredericksburg the most important Civil War cultural history site in America. A small sample exhibit is now on display at the Civil War Life Store on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg. A massive collection awaits a new home to benefit the nation. Help us make history--their story!

On January 31, the board for the National Civil War Life Foundation held their first meeting of 2010. The purpose of this session was to address the changes that had occurred in recent months and to initiate planning for the coming year.

In December of 2009, Terry Thomann, Director of the Civil War Life Soldier’s Museum, relocated his facility from the Massaponnax region of Spotsylvania County to the historic district in the City of Fredericksburg. Currently, Mr. Thomann is displaying a small portion of artifacts within his new gift shop at 829 Caroline Street. The Foundation intends to establish a new museum in the Fredericksburg area that will accommodate Mr. Thomann’s entire collection of over 2,000 items and host a variety of special exhibits including the Civil War in 3D Photography show.

The National Civil War Life Foundation’s mission remains “To operate a national museum and research center that preserves and interprets the human story of the American Civil War and connects the lives of all people of that era to the nation today.” Terry Thomann and Acting Chairman Michael Aubrecht are leading the effort to develop a new business plan for the Foundation to implement in the very near future.

The Foundation continues to focus on supporting education by providing a venue that will introduce students of all ages to the Civil War in an all-inclusive setting. Educating the public through this endeavor remains a top priority of this venture. This unique museum will be designed specifically to engage visitors of all ages in a manner in which they can both relate to and better understand the complexities of the Civil War. The core artifact collection and subject matter expertise is already in place. The need remains for a suitable location to properly present it.

Fundraising, selecting a new location for the museum and increasing the public’s awareness of this project are the priorities of the Foundation in 2010. Several initiatives have been recommended by the Foundation Board and include hosting special events such as “The Angel of Marye’s Heights” documentary film premiere. Rotating exhibits showcasing Fredericksburg’s wartime experiences are also being explored.

The National Civil War Life Foundation wishes the public to know that the current Civil War Life Museum and collection has moved to downtown Fredericksburg and that this project will be moving forward. Updates that reflect the changes in the NCWLF’s status and location will be implemented on the organization’s website at www.civilwarlife.org in the coming weeks. All museum-related events will be announced as they become scheduled. Contact: civilwarlife@yahoo.com

The 150th anniversary of the Civil War will begin in 2011. This historical milestone is a great opportunity for Spotsylvania County to take advantage of the influx of tourists who will be traveling to Virginia to visit Civil War sites. The National Civil War Life Foundation plans to open a new museum in the new Spotsylvania Courthouse village area and needs local support from both governmental and private donors. It is our belief that an area as historically significant as Spotsylvania County deserves to compete with other notable Civil War sites across the country.

Museums such as ours do not just serve our respective home communities; they ultimately draw thousands of visitors. These tourism dollars help to support the local economy and vital governmental and community services. Without a Civil War museum of its own, Spotsylvania is not taking full advantage of its legacy.

The National Civil War Life Museum's mission is to operate an inclusive museum and research center. We firmly believe that a museum should present all sides of the Civil War story and the experiences of all Americans, whether they were civilians or soldiers, fought for the North or the South, were white or black, free or enslaved.

This inclusive approach is evident, not only through our curatorial programming, but across our entire organization. Our current board represents all walks of life including black, white, male, female, military, and civilian. We are unified in of our mission to convey the human story of the Civil War.

The current National Civil War Life Museum has been serving the county for almost 10 years while providing quality exhibits and historical interpretation at a reasonable cost to the community. For the past three years the museum has also served the Spotsylvania school system's summer enrichment program.

We are very grateful for the county's continued support and believe that we will be able to provide even better service to both residents and visitors with this proposed expansion. The current museum will have the space necessary to grow into one of the nation's premier Civil War facilities once it is relocated to the Courthouse village area currently under construction.

This spot is adjacent to the Spotsylvania battlefield where no museum is available for tourists. Our plans and our mission have already garnered the support of artist Mort Küntsler, the Civil War Preservation Trust, and several prominent historians and scholars.

The Museum of the Confederacy's intermittent interest in opening a branch in Spotsylvania County has stimulated interest and concern regarding its mission, focus, and what this facility will cost county taxpayers. The National Civil War Life Foundation acknowledges the impressive collection of artifacts housed at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. But we contend that the demographic represented by this fine collection is limited.

Our mission embraces the idea that Spotsylvania's Civil War experience impacted not just the Confederate States of America, but all Americans. The goal of the National Civil War Life Museum is to attract a broad spectrum of visitors from across the United States and abroad--people who will come and spend their tourism dollars here in Spotsylvania County.

Time is short to get this project under way. It is hoped that the Board of Supervisors will make a decision soon regarding what type of museum will best serve our area. It is important that the residents of Spotsylvania County let their supervisors know that they choose the National Civil War Life Museum, as some county resources will be required to supplement our foundation's fund-raising efforts.

For more on this endeavor, visit civilwar life.org. Help us tell the complete story of America's Civil War.

Terry Thomann is director and Michael Aubrecht is the vice chairman of the National Civil War Life Museum

PRESS RELEASE: (August 10, 2009) Fredericksburg, VA - Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), The National Civil War Life Museum will be able to support the design, fabrication and installation of two exhibits, Life in Camp and Technology and Armament and War. Life in Camp will focus on recreating camp life with objects used daily by soldiers. Technology, Armament and War will include artifacts and newspapers of the time period highlighting the influence of the industrial revolution, involvement and diversity of civilian factory workers, and innovation and ingenuity of the Civil War era. Both exhibits will become permanent installations in the museum's Civil War Life Gallery. The project coincides with the 2011 Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration.

"The Civil War is the defining event in American history since the founding of our Republic. Many of us have studied its history, battles, tactics and strategy; some have delved into the fundamental causes and the dominant political, economic, and human rights issues. However, we cannot truly comprehend the magnitude and impact of the Civil War era unless we take time to understand the bravery and sacrifices, individually and collectively, of those who fought on both sides, and all whose lives that were indelibly shaped and affected before, during and in the aftermath of this epic struggle. To this day we still live with the legacy, outcome, and consequences of the Civil War."

- Col. Horace McCaskill Jr., USA, (Ret) - Chairman of the Board, National Civil War Life Foundation.

"As repositories of our nation's treasures and our nation's history, museums are positioned to play and integral role in the education of their communities. Museums for America grants support projects and ongoing activities that build museums' capacities and help these institutions serve their diverse constituencies to the best of their abilities."

- Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services

IMLS received 433 applications requesting more than $48.4 million. Of these 167 projects were selected to receive $19,176,000. The projects selected represent a wide spectrum of activities that will help museums serve their communities better through increased education programs, community outreach programs and behind-the-scenes projects.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

In late July a dramatic, half-hour documentary on the life and legacy of Sgt. Richard Kirkland was partially filmed in the Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania area. Two members of the NCWLF board, John Cummings and Michael Aubrecht, appeared in the film as local historians. (Aubrecht also acted as co-producer and consultant for the project.) Through interviews filmed on location at Prospect Hill and the Civil War Life Museum both men shared their unique insights on the experiences of the Confederate soldier and "The Angel of Marye's Heights." Kirkland's image has become an important part of the NCWLF's branding and represents the foundation's vision to preserve and present ALL sides of Civil War history. A special commercial was also filmed on site for the NCWLF. The video will be posted online and submitted to local television programming. Below are still shots taken of Cummings (top) and Aubrecht (bottom) during their respective interviews. Other interviewees included Civil War artist Mort Kunstler, award-winning audio book writer Megan Hicks, National Park Service Ranger Donald Phanz, as well as Camden S.C. historian and author of "The Long Role" Joseph Matheson. The film's music is being composed by Canadian Bluegrass musician Will White who wrote a song about Kirkland called "Fredericksburg 1862." The movie is slated for a December 12 release on the anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg. An opening event is tentatively being sponsored through the NCWLF with plans to install the film as a permanent show at the museum.

News links:
The Free Lance-Star: War Angel to Amaze Again
The Roanoke Times: Salem boy portrays soldier in Civil War documentary