Re-enactors to bring Civil War to life at General Lew Wallace Study

Presentations represent daily life of Union soldiers under Wallace’s command

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN, June 21, 2008— The scent of campfires and the sounds of Stephen Foster songs will fill the air once again at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum for its annual Civil War encampment weekend, July 12 and 13. This year, however, visitors will get a rare chance to dig deeper into the experience of life as one of General Wallace’s rank-and-file soldiers.

The Museum has partnered with Mid States Living History Association, Inc. out of Indianapolis to present several activities on the Museum grounds over the course of the weekend that give a greater insight into life as a soldier during this tumultuous time in American history. In addition to live demonstrations of camp cooking, construction, medical care, music, telegraphy and artillery training, visitors may get the chance to interact with General Wallace himself, listening in as he reflects on the controversial battle of Shiloh and his innovative defense of Cincinnati.

“This year, we’re offering visitors an even more immersive experience,” said Associate Director Amanda Wesselmann. “I think our guests will enjoy the diversity of activities, and hopefully, come to appreciate what General Wallace and his soldiers had to endure during the Civil War.”

The live activities include “School of the Piece,” an instructional training exercise for cannoneers that demonstrates the degree of textbook and practical training required to function on the field of battle. Visitors will also be invited to participate in infantry training drills using toy “Woodfield” (wooden) rifles. Demonstrations in Civil War-era medical care, camp construction and cooking, and using a working telegraph will also be held throughout the weekend.
Visitors are invited to experience the live drama of the Civil War on Saturday, July 12 from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville. For further information, contact the Museum at 765-362-5769 or email info@ben-hur.com.

New Field Trips Prompts a Series of Programs

For the first time, almost every second, third, and fourth grade student in Crawfordsville visited the Museum this year, along with students from throughout the county and region. To accommodate this influx of students - who we hope will return next year - we introduced a series of topical tours catered to the learning standards of each grade. The second graders learned about Lew Wallace as an author, and returned to write stories on the grounds like Wallace did with his world-renowned book Ben-Hur. The third graders focused on local history and what Wallace did while he lived in Crawfordsville, as well as what makes the Study a unique building unlike any they'll see elsewhere. The fourth graders looked at what made Wallace important to the state of Indiana: his fame as an author, diplomat, and soldier. All these students got to look at the Study and Museum, but with a different focus for each group, there will be something new to see the next time they come.

Reasons to Visit and Volunteer at the Study

Hello, I am a volunteer here at the Lew Wallace Study. Approximately one year ago I sought out opportunities to help my community and for those opportunities to be interesting, challenging, and not boring. As a volunteer I work on the newsletter, give tours, and research information upon request from the public regarding Lew's fascinating life. I enjoy these opportunities as it is a vast change from my daily job and additionally I am providing a public service to promote a national treasure.

When I was a small child, my grandmother took me to the study. Many years later I returned to tour the study as a college student. As a child, I was fascinated by the exhibits from the film version of Ben Hur (1959), as the suit of the Roman Legionnaire caught my eye. However, after studying literature and studying history in college, I returned and fell in love with the artifact collection on Lew's life as an author, general, ambassador, and sportsman. It was the memories of both tours plus reading the novel Ben Hur that inspired me to volunteer at this study. Now I take the opportunity to inspire others to study Lew Wallace and appreciate him for his incredible life and the study itself.

When you visit the study, each tour begins with a brief video presentation of Lew's biography. In the film, Lew Wallace is described as a hero for modern times. It makes sense - a best-selling author who followed his true calling in the literary arts after practicing law; a general who volunteered for the Union army leaving his family (wife Susan, son Henry) for the front lines of the Civil War like many men in that era; a foreign ambassador in the infancy of American international diplomacy; a territorial governor sent to clean up New Mexico during the period of William Bonney a/k/a Billy The Kid; and a "gentleman scientist" whose innovations range from a telescoping fishing pole to making a railroad safe for passengers in the late 19th century. He embodies more the Renaissance man of the late middle ages than the Victorian Era in which he lived and thrived. This is a fascinating man who can teach all of us the themes of perseverance and hard work.

Since starting my volunteer work here, I have learned much more about Lew than I ever imagined. I'm now inspired to read his two-volume biography published posthumously and The Fair God, Lew's first novel about the conquest of the Aztec empire by Cortez from the Aztec perspective. He produced a pronunciation guide for the Aztec characters, which some critics disliked at that time. I'm also interested in reading The Land of the Pueblos, a collection of articles produced by Susan, Lew's wife, during their time in New Mexico.

There is an aspect for every visitor at the study. If you enjoy literature, you will enjoy browsing at Lew's collection of books and the monument for the Ben Hur beech tree (90% of the novel was written under the tree). If you enjoy science, you will enjoy our current exhibit complete with a recreation of a Victorian workbench. If you enjoy the Civil War, you will enjoy the study's exhibits on Lew's involvement with the Union army, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Andersonville trial. If you enjoy the outdoors, you will enjoy our groundskeeper's wonderful use of period-era foliage and the exhibit on Lew's love of fishing. If you like architecture, the study itself is a gold mine on the styles and features.

In summation, I enjoy my volunteer work at the Lew Wallace Study and continue to volunteer, receiving the inspiration I need from simply setting foot inside the study and discussing one of America's most interesting figures of the nineteenth century. Visit at least once, then many other times subsequently, to see with your own eyes what I have described in this introductory blog.

Spring Blooms

The grounds of the Study are filled with blooming wildflowers. Wild hyacinth, allium, iris, wood violets, prairie trillium are just some of the wonderful plants found on the Study grounds.

Gardens are in the process of being planted. Cannas, elephant ears, caladiums, castor beans, lantana are some of the plants that will be on display throughout the summer. The children's garden is featured this year, with local children doing the planting. Lamb's ear (please touch) and cherry tomatoes are some of the fun plants in this garden. Cool season pansies and alyssum were planted during the Lew Wallace Birthday Celebration. Marigolds are to be planted soon and the garden will be filled with lots of bright colorful flowers.

New Items Make Gifting a Breeze!

Things are blooming outside, and new things are also popping up in our gift shop! We have several new book titles for readers of all ages, including our 2008 Brown Bag Book Club selections Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and The Wizard of Menlo Park by Randall Stross. Younger readers can check out You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Civil War Soldier!, which spells out what life was like in the Union army, from the wool uniforms to the tasteless hardtack!

Lew Wallace became very acquainted with the art of using a quill pen on parchment paper, and now you can too! Our “Create Your Own Parchment Document” kits include ink, glass ink bottle with cork stopper, feather quill pen and piece of parchment to make your own historical-looking documents. Want to make your words really stick? Our new Lew Wallace magnetic poetry kits mix the fun of creating your own verse with some terrific Wallace-themed words to make an activity that entertains and educates!

In addition, we have a terrific collection of items for the Civil War buff, literary enthusiast and nature lover in your family. Remember the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum gift shop when you shop, and keep General Wallace’s legacy alive with every gift you send! Contact us through our website, by emailing info@ben-hur.com, or by giving us a call at 765-362-5769 and let us help with all your gift-giving needs.

International Museum Day--May 18, 2008

The General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville is celebrating International Museum Day on Sunday, May 18, 2008 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. International Museum Day has been celebrated throughout the world since 1977. In celebration of the impact that museums have on the cultural enrichment of the community, the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum will be offering free tours of its facilities, light refreshments, and a free gift to all visitors. The General Lew Wallace Study and Museum is located at 200 Wallace Avenue in Crawfordsville. For more information on this and other events at the Museum, contact 765-362-5769 or visit our website at www.ben-hur.com.

Spring

Spring at the Study has finally arrived! A cold and wet March has given way to warmer temperatures and sunshine with bouts of rain. The Study grounds are covered in scilla, spring beauty and cut-leaved toothwort. Dogtooth violets are starting to bloom along with lily of the valley. The numerous trees on the grounds are starting to leaf and the redbud trees are in full glory. The magnolias, daffodils and tulips have finished blooming and the gardens are waiting for the planting of annuals. Frost-free date is around the 10th of May and the gardens will be planted by the 1st of June. Plants that were listed in catalog of the 1800's are planted to maintain the historic aspects of the Study. Ageratum, marigolds, lantana, elephant ears, cannas are just some of the plants that are planned for the gardens.