History Class - The Civil War Through Different Lenses
Thursday, April 23, 2020 | 4:00-5:30pm
A Lecture Series Featuring Top Historians
Introduction – The Civil War was our greatest catastrophe, eclipsing all the nation’s other wars combined. Often called “the watershed of American history,” a major dividing line between past and present, the conflict nonetheless failed to permanently resolve many of the country’s woes. Indeed, over 150 year later, the United States still grapples with many of the same issues. And the American population still struggles to accurately interpret exactly what happened. That struggle, that longing need to understand, has spawned Civil War movies, magazines, and books galore. Join us as we explore—with the help of six historians—the Civil War Thru Different Lenses.
The Speakers and Topics– Hosted by historian Rick Britton, the class features the following Civil War historians: Gary Gallagher (the former director of U.Va.’s Nau Civil War Center) on “Hollywood & the Civil War”; Richard Nicholas on “Sheridan’s 1865 James River Campaign”; William Bergen on “Grant’s Overland Campaign”; J. K. Brandau on “The Untold Story of Armistead’s Brigade”; Ron Coddington on “Civil War Nurses”; and Dale Floyd on “Union Military Education & Training.”
The Details – Held at The Center (formerly the Senior Center), located on Belvedere Blvd. north of town, the class starts Thursday, April 23, and runs for 5 more Thursdays (4 to 5:30 p.m.): April 30, May 7, 14, 21, and 28. Charge: The Center members - $80; Guests - $90. To sign up, call The Center Travel Office at (434) 974-6538 or go to www.thecentercville.org and press first “Travel,” then “Lectures.”
The Travel Session – Saturday, May 30, at 9 a.m. - A FREE 3-hour “Civil War in Charlottesville & Albemarle” tour (for class participants only) led by historian Rick Britton. Stops include Charlottesville’s Court Square (where we’ll discuss slavery & several statues); Maplewood Cemetery (which features a fascinating collection of Civil War participants); and the site of the skirmish at Rio Hill (our area’s only Civil War combat).
Location: The Center