Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of The Civil War

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. In 1861, Confederate soldiers attacked Fort Sumter. By the end of the war, in 1865, an estimated 1,030,000 Americans had died as a result of the war.

In September, 2010, Gov. Rell created the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission. Below you'll find a list of events scheduled this week to mark the anniversary of the start of the war.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

8 a.m. - State Capitol Building, Hartford 
Commemorative Cannon Firing marks the 150th anniversary of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, which launched the nation into four years of bloody conflict. Governor Malloy to deliver the opening remarks, which will be followed by a dozen cannon firing from the north lawn facing Bushnell Park. 

12 p.m. - Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St., Hartford 
Civil War Kick-Off Lecture by Matthew Warshauer, CCSU Professor of History and co-chair of the Commemoration Committee. 

Friday, April 15, 2011 

8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Central Connecticut State University, New Britain 
Conference - Commemorating the American Civil War: Connecticut Connections. Keynote lecture by David Blight, professor of History at Yale University and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance & Abolition. Dr. Blight will focus on the larger meaning of commemorating the Civil War within the context of the conflict’s causes and outcomes. 

Pre-registration is required. 

Saturday, April 16, 2011 

10 a.m. - Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT 
Commemoration Kick-Off - official opening ceremony involving Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Civil War re-enactors, the Governor’s Foot Guard, and Connecticut National Guard Units. The event will include; salute the flag, a 21 gun salute, and playing of the National Anthem. 

Governor Malloy has been invited to give the opening remarks, followed by a benediction by Dr. Felton Best, CCSU Professor of Philosophy and African American Studies and Bishop of the Sanctuary of Faith and Glory Church of Windsor, as well as a benediction by Rev. Gary Miller, senior minister of the historic Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford. 

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. - Exhibits:

CCSU Student Center - offers dozens of state organizations’ displays, Civil War items, programs and connections. 

Chen Art Gallery, 2nd floor Maloney Hall - A Civil War lithograph and envelope display. 

Elihu Burritt Library - Civil War exhibit 

11a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
Encampment, Military and Civilian Demonstrations throughout CCSU campus and Stanley Quarter Park. Experience the sights and smells of an encampment, visit the period “sutlers” (merchants) and see what they’re selling, and watch battle skirmishes and firing demonstrations of cannons and muskets. 

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Assorted Talks on Civil War topics, CCSU Student Center 

2:30 p.m.
Battle Reenactment, Stanley Quarter Park 

4 p.m.
Stanley Quarter Park closes to the public 

5 p.m.
Exhibit Hall closes 

Sunday, April 17, 2011 

9 a.m. - Stanley Quarter Park 
Workshop Service

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. - Stanley Quarter Park 
Vintage Baseball Game

10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Encampment, Military and Civilian Demonstrations throughout CCSU campus and Stanley Quarter Park. Experience the sights and smells of an encampment, visit the period “sutlers” (merchants) and see what they’re selling, and watch battle skirmishes and firing demonstrations of cannons and muskets. 

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Exhibits: 

CCSU Student Center - Dozens of state organizations’ displays, Civil War items, programs and connections. 

Chen Art Gallery, 2nd floor Maloney Hall - A Civil War lithograph and envelope display. 

Elihu Burritt Library - Civil War exhibit 

1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Stanley Quarter Park
Battle Reenactment

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. - CCSU Student Center 
Assorted Talks on Civil War topics, CCSU Student Center

Additional details can be found by visiting  Central Connecticut State University.