EXHIBITS:

Now through Jan. 31 – Exhibit: “The Waxpool General Store,” at Thomas Balch Library. During the month of January, come visit the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum's exhibit on the Waxpool General Store. Appointments can be made for Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10AM to 12PM and 1PM to 3PM, by filling our a request here.

Now through Jan. 24 – Exhibit: “The Dutch Golden Age: Prints by Rembrandt and his Contemporaries.” During the Dutch Golden Age the arts and artists flourished—many artists who are now beloved household names, including Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), worked during this period, when middle-class life rapidly developed and material comforts and luxuries, including art, became available to more people. This exhibition brings together more than 60 prints that illuminate this exciting period, including seven prints by Rembrandt, and works by his precursors, peers, and followers. This exhibition is organized by the Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, MD. 301-739-5727.

LECTURES, SEMINARS, TOURS & OTHER EVENTS:

Fri., Jan. 8, at 1:00 p.m. – Facebook Live – “Hospital Stewards in the Civil War” with Dr. William Campbell, Education Coordinator John Lustrea will talk with Dr. William Campbell about his research on hospital stewards during the Civil War. During their live conversation they will talk about the hospital steward’s role in the Civil War healthcare team, both in the hospital and in the field. They will also address if hospital stewards have any parallels to the modern health care system today. For more information, see http://www.civilwarmed.org/

Fri., Jan. 8, at 6 p.m. – “Zoom Culture and Cocktails: Braddock Heights.” Join historian Bob Savitt for a deep dive into the rich history of Braddock Heights. Established in July 1896, and situated on Braddock Mountain in Frederick County, MD, Braddock Heights was the home of an amusement park, roller rink, and community pool. The featured cocktail will be: The Bumper Car! Named for everyone’s favorite ride, this tangy, bourbon infused beverage is sure to bring back memories of summer nights spent at Braddock Heights. For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! $10/person. For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culture-and-cocktails-braddock-heights-tickets-132589604075?aff=erellivmlt

 Sat., Jan. 16, at 9:00 a.m. – Gettysburg (Virtual) Winter Lecture Series begins. These free digital programs will be broadcast every Saturday at 9 am from January 16 through March 27 via the Gettysburg National Military Park Facebook page. All presentations will also be archived on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/gett. Featuring National Park Service rangers and historians from both Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site, the 10-week Winter Lecture Series will examine some of the treasured artifacts on display at Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS. Together, the two parks have one of the largest museum collections in the National Park Service, featuring compelling artifacts that serve as a window into the past. “This is a challenging time for visitors to be able to explore the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum of the American Civil War and the Eisenhower Home,” notes Christopher Gwinn, Chief of Interpretation and Education at Gettysburg National Military Park. “Through this lecture series we hope to offer virtual visitors a chance to see some of the amazing artifacts that are on display and highlight the powerful stories they help illuminate.” For more information, see links above.

Mon., Jan. 25, at 1:00 p.m. – “Dorothea Dix and the Memory of Civil War Medicine,” with Dr. Thomas J. Brown, sponsored by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Join us on Facebook for a *pre-recorded* virtual program hosted by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Education Coordinator John Lustrea will have a conversation with Dr. Thomas J. Brown about the famous Civil War nurse and reformer Dorothea Dix. In addition to discussing her life and Civil War career, Professor Brown will also cover use Dix as a lens to talk about the wider memory and memorialization of Civil War nurses. You won’t want to miss this engaging discussion about of the 19th century’s greatest figures and what her life can tell us about how we think of Civil War medicine today. You can tune in live by visiting facebook.com/civilwarmed at the scheduled time.

Wed., Jan. 27, at 7:00 p.m. – “The Union's First Black Regiment and the U.S. Army's Linkage to the Emancipation Proclamation.” The movie "Glory" made the 54th Massachusetts famous, but the story of African American units that formed earlier in the Civil War has not been told as effectively. The Union Army's first Black unit was organized at Port Royal, South Carolina in May 1862 as the First South Carolina Volunteers of African Descent (1SCVAD). The unit was composed entirely of enslaved men and was formed during turbulent and controversial times. On the night of 31 December 1862, the Soldiers of the 1SCVAD went to sleep as "contraband" but on the morning of 1 January 1863 with the first public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation these men were transformed into free men. This presentation will be an image-heavy conversation between LTG (RET) Ben Hodges and COL (RET) Chris Allen and will seek to elevate this little-known chapter of American history into a more proper light. Sponsored by U.S. Army Heritage Foundation. Register for webinar here.