Behind the Scenes at the American Civil War Museum, Part 02: Into the Collection!
Second installment in a series.
Robert Hancock, senior curator at the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia, takes Emerging Civil War’s Chris Mackowski and Tyler McGraw behind-the-scenes for a look at just a few of the 16,000 items in the museum’s collection.
I very much enjoyed the video interview with head curator Robert Hancock- thank you! In July 1998, my wife and I traveled to Gettysburg for the 135th anniversary reenactment. Afterwards, we drove south into Virginia. At the time, we were members of the Museum of the Confederacy, which is the same museum but now renamed. I had contacted Rebecca Rose, whose specialty was the flag collection to ask if we could see the regimental flag of the 26th North Carolina captured at Gettysburg, the unit I reenacted. It was amazing to see the flag up close, with the bloodstain of one of the soldiers who was shot down carrying it on July 1, 1863. We were able to see a few other items up close and personal. Highly recommended! By the way, I too am a “Stonewall Jackson Fanboy”. In 1986, when I learned my 2x great-grandfather had been a private in Co. F, 33rd Virginia Infantry, it was like discovering royalty.
I’m glad you enjoyed Robert’s tour. He had some cool stuff to show off, but honestly, he had so many interesting things to SAY about his work that I was fascinated.
Wicked cool that you got to see the flag of the 26th. Material culture can provide such an impactful connect.
Huzzah for the 33rd VA and the Stonewall Brigade! 🙂