Museum on Main presents Voices from the Civil War
- June 13, 2013
By Rebecca F. Johnson
Correspondent, Bay Area News Group
PLEASANTON -- The Museum on Main will showcase the world of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War with a series of events and a special traveling exhibit this summer.
Through July 28, the museum will host the exhibit "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War" in conjunction with the Pleasanton Library. The exhibit focuses on the challenges Lincoln faced in the midst of a divided nation touching on slavery, civil liberties and other topics.
The traveling exhibit was established by the National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The exhibit was made possible by a National Endowment for the Humanities' grant and will continue touring the U.S. through 2015.
The museum is at 603 Main St., in Pleasanton.
On Saturday, July 13, families and history enthusiasts can visit a Civil War encampment that will be erected on the museum's front lawn. Civil War re-enactors will depict Union and Confederate soldiers and a Lincoln impersonator will make an appearance. The free event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For the library portion, the Civil War will be discussed in two free lectures and a series of film showings. From 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 23, historian and professor emeritus of CSU East Bay Gerald Henig will speak on "Abraham Lincoln and the Struggle Against Slavery and Disunion: A Sesquicentennial Perspective."
Legal scholars and college professors Margalynne Armstrong and Daniel Farber will take on the subject of "Lincoln and the Constitution Today" with moderator Jesse Choper from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7. Both lectures are being presented with support from the exhibit creators.
The library, at 400 Old Bernal Ave., will have free showings of three Civil War-related films from 2 to 5 p.m. on the following Fridays: "Glory" on June 28; "Lincoln" on July 12; and "Conspirator" on July 19.
The library will also host a Civil War-themed Fourth of July picnic at noon Wednesday, July 3 with a fife and drum band, storytelling and children's activities.