Civil War U: The Civil War Center at Shepherd University

Shepherd University: The Civil War Center (website)
Dr. Jennifer Murray, director: jmurr01@shepherd.edu

Fun Fact: The Civil War Center is housed in the Conrad Shindler Home on West German Street in Shepherdstown.  Shindler was the great-great-great grandfather of actress Mary Tyler Moore.  In 1995, Mary Tyler Moore donated the house to Shepherd University to house the Civil War Center.  Thus, the official name of the Civil War Center is “The George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War,” named in honor of Mary’s father.

By Carson Hayek

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — At Shepherd University, the study of Civil War history is rarely confined to a classroom.

The location of Shepherd University provides several opportunities for unique learning experiences. The university sits just minutes away from Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and South Mountain. Additionally, Monocacy, Gettysburg, and Cedar Creek battlefields are all about an hour away, while Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor sit within a few hours’ drive.

Dr. Jennifer Murray, director of the Civil War Center, said the proximity to such Civil War landmarks makes Shepherd University distinct.

“This point cannot be overstated: No other university—or Civil War program—is better geographically positioned,” Murray said. “Our proximity to these historic landscapes offers students endless opportunities for learning outside of the classroom, immersive/hands-on experiences, and internships with numerous state parks, national parks, and museums.”

The Center, founded in the 1990s, hosts battlefield tours, lectures by historians, and public programs that connect students with history enthusiasts. According to Murray, students are encouraged to participate in all Civil War Center activities and connect with speakers and historians.

Murray, who joined Shepherd in 2025 and was previously at Oklahoma State University, has just begun her second year at the Civil War Center. “What attracted me to this position is the geographic location of Shepherd,” she said. “I am deeply connected to the Civil War battlefields in this region and am so fortunate to live and work among these landscapes.”

History majors at the university can pursue a concentration in Civil War and 19th-century American History by completing required coursework and taking upper-level electives on the Civil War. The history department also offers a concentration in historic preservation and public history.

Regardless of the concentration, Murray recommends being involved and participating in an internship.

“I would also advise students interested in studying the Civil War to think about what they want to do with a concentration in the Civil War,” Murray said. “Whatever your intended career goal, my best piece of advice is to do an internship!”

Recent alumni have worked for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Antietam National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park, Preservation Maryland, and Heritage Frederick.

To arrange a campus visit, interested students can reach out to Murray via email: jmurr01@shepherd.edu.

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Carson Hayek, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., is a junior journalism student at St. Bonaventure University.

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For a student’s perspective on Shepherd University’s Civil War Center, Emerging Civil War’s Chris Mackowski spoke with senior Kelly Ramos. Kelly is a senior this year at Shepherd University. The interview was recorded in early summer 2026.