Expo Design

The American Civil War Sesquicentennial Traveling Educational Exposition is designed into a six (6) year study of the events that lead up to Secession, The War, & into Reconstruction.

We have expanded our Expo from two (2) days for the past 16 years, to three (3) days. While the base element will always remain our Knowledge, Displays, & Era Music, we have decided to change the delivery. We have chosen to add speakers, classroom demos, computer presentations, student/guest participation, living history/encampment with military drills (Artillery, Mortar, and Infantry - firing, marching, skirmish, and bayonet).

The First Day

Friday

Will begin with Reenactors & Historians going into each school within the Host School District.

They will address the students in whatever format the school wishes, whether being the whole school as a group or several smaller groups, for one (1) hour or four (4) hours. The purpose is to teach the students and guests (if allowed by the school) about the American Civil War and the Exposition on the weekend. Each student will receive a free pass (with a paying adult-please see Cost page for details), the pass can be used for either day but not both.

The Reenactors will give an age/grade appropriate demonstration, they will be polite and courteous while treating the audience with respect, which is expected in return.

The cost of this is free, to the students, guests, teachers, and districts.

The 2nd & 3rd Days

Saturday & Sunday

10:00am-5:00pm

We will open the doors at 10:00am on each day to the building/indoor potion of the expo at which time people can use their passes and purchase their wristbands. The living history/encampment area will be viewable starting at 9:00am after the reenactors have their breakfast and get ready. People with the proper wristband will be able to enter after 10:00am.

A schedule will be posted online and given to those who have the proper wristband. The living history/encampment area is all weather permitting and some but not all will be moved indoors if needed.

The wristband you will recieve gets you into every area of the expo which is open, the schedule will let you know where and when different events will be taking place, please review as some speakers and demos will only happen once, most however will take place twice on each day. When you go into different areas your wristband will be checked and punched, in order for everyone to get a chance to see as much as possible entry to some areas will be limited to one time per day.

Areas not limited will be the main expo halls, living history/encampment, and era music locations. Areas that will be limited will be repeat speakers, recruitment units, and repeat computer demos. This is being done to allow as many people as possible to view each area, if demand allows you will be allowed, but people who have not seen or been in those areas will have the first chance.

Some of the Displays are;

The Western Gunboat Flotilla/Mississippi Squadron

Prisons of the War

Women during the War

SUVCW Graves Registration Project

An era gunsmith

Artillery

(Heavy & Light)

Cavalry

(Unmounted)

Infantry

Bands & Musicians

Camp Life & Followers

Some activities are;

Artillery drills with firing

Infantry mortar drills with firing

Cavalry skirmish drills with firing

Infantry loading and firing practice

Infantry bayonet drills non-firing

Student Infantry recruitment non-firing

Student Artillery recruitment non-firing

Era Music

Two Student games (additional cost see Cost page)

(Academic search - where the student will receive a list of questions that they need to ask the correct reenactor/demonstrator to get the answer)

(Activity search - where the student will complete a list of activities and get a punch on a different wristband)

Students/People who complete either of these will bring their proof of completion to the gift shop where they will receive a certificate of completion which is a free pass for one student and one adult to the next year's Expo. You do not have to be a student to play either game.

The time you will need depends on what you do and see, you may spend as little as 1.5 hours, but you could also be here all day and not see and do everything. It is your choice.

Food will be available, but if you wish you may leave and your wristband will be good for your reentry on the same day, as long as it has not been removed.