The United States, Interrupted, 1861 - 1865: Week 2

Week 2 of "One County Reads the Civil War" includes the arrival of the centerpiece of the BDC's efforts and catalyst for the Library system project Civil War 150: Exploring the War and Its Meaning through the Words of Those Who Lived It.  

Sept. 9^th – Civil War 150 opens with hours 10 am – 5 pm Mondays through - Fridays until Sept. 30^th. (Special evening hours until 7:30 pm on 9/12, 9/19 & 9/24). Come see Civil War 150 and pick up a voucher in the BDC Research Room for a discount on select tours and exhibits being held by our partners during this project.  (Discount vouchers expire on Halloween, October 31st.)

Four of the five branch libraries have "Civil War in Beaufort District" displays on site courtesy of the Beaufort District Collection during their regular hours of operation.  Although the narrative is the same at all four locations, the visuals and surrogate artifacts vary among branches. We thank Angie Brown, Mark Essman, Brendan Cordial, Greg Crispell and Mary Jo Berkes for loaning items from their personal collections to these displays.  As you wander around Beaufort County you may want to include stops by these branch libraries.  Visit Beaufort Branch, Bluffton Branch, Hilton Head Branch or Lobeco Branch.  (St. Helena Branch Library does not have a locked display case yet). 

Sept. 10^th – Dr. Robert Lisle shares his expertise during a presentation on “Civil War Photography and Equipment” in the BDC lobby area at 6 pm.  Free.  Open to all over aged 12.

Please note: Some items from Dr. Lisle's collection will remain on display in the BDC Research Room through Sept. 30th.  

Sept. 12^th – Dave Smoot will bring along period surgical implements and show-and-tell what a CSA Medical officer would have done during the Civil War period. He cautions that the presentation might be grisly and graphic for some.  At his request, please no one under age 16. This free program will be held downstairs in the Beaufort Branch Meeting Room beginning at 6 pm. (If you can't make this presentation, he'll be at St. Helena and Hilton Head Branches later this month.)

Sept. 14^th – Dr. Stephen Wise speaks about the course of the Civil War in Beaufort District during the reception at 2 pm upstairs in the BDC lobby area. Free.

Inside the Library system:

Hilton Head Branch Library has a program "Secret Codes & Spies" for 2nd grade & up on Sept. 10th at 6:30 pm and screens and discusses a movie version of Stephen Crane's classic Red Badge of Courage at 2 pm on September 12th.

Bluffton Branch Library offers "The Civil War Experience for Teens" on Friday evening, Sept. 13th at 6 pm. 


Our partner, Beaufort History Museum is hosting author Tim Johnson reading his own short story "The Interruption of Thomas Darrow" on Friday, Sept. 13th at 7 pm. Fee. For details, call 277-1443 or visit http://www.beauforthistorymuseum.com.


On-going events include the Civil War local history exhibit at Parris Island Museum, the Dawn of Freedom exhibit sponsored by the Mitchelville Preservation Project; the picture display at the Heritage Library Foundation; free Civil War exhibits on the ground level of the John Mark Verdier House; and discount admissions on the Coastal Discovery Museum and Heritage Library Foundation's Fort Mitchel Tour, Forts of Port Royal Tour, and Civil War era talk and Tour, John Mark Verdier House Museum Tour, and the 1st SC Volunteer exhibit at the Beaufort History Museum provided you drop by the Beaufort District Collection to see our Civil War 150 exhibit. One can also take the Heyward House Tour in Bluffton to experience the Civil War. 

The Library based activities are free.  Some of our partners activities are free while others are available at reduced or minimal cost.  Please see our web pages for details: http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/civilwar.