CIVIL WAR EXHIBIT AT HIWAN HOMESTEAD MUSEUM

Description

CIVIL WAR EXHIBIT AT HIWAN HOMESTEAD MUSEUM

On April 13, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, igniting a terrible Civil War that claimed more than 600,000 lives. On April 12, 2011, 150 years later, Hiwan Homestead Museum will open a major exhibit called ?Fateful Lightning: Colorado in the Civil War, 1861-1865?.

Focusing on the role Colorado played in the War, this exhibit will feature original weapons, battlefield relics, documents, letters, personal items, photos, and other memorabilia. Colorado troops served in several major battles, such as the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico and the battles around Westport, Missouri, the largest Civil War conflicts west of the Mississippi. They also played a role in the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. The exhibit will run through November 20th, and it is sponsored by the Jefferson County Historical Society.

The Museum public hours are Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. Extended summer hours beginning June 1 to August 31 are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hiwan Homestead Museum is a 25-room log mansion constructed in the Rustic style of architecture. It is located in Evergreen at 4208 S. Timbervale Drive. Hiwan Homestead Museum is a Jefferson County Open Space facility operated in partnership with the Jefferson County Historical Society. The Museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.