Historian and Author to Discuss Alexandria in the Civil War

April 6 Lecture Sets the Stage for Civil War Sesquicentennial in Alexandria

As part of Alexandria’s commemoration of the Civil War, historian and author James Barber will present the lecture, “Alexandria, Virginia: Southern Town, Yankee Citadel,” on Wednesday, April 6.  This lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. at The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, at 201 South Washington Street in Old Town Alexandria, and admission is $10 per person.

In his overview of wartime Alexandria, Barber will discuss events leading up to the Union occupation of the city and how the Federal presence transformed the Southern port city into a major base of operations for the Union war effort.  A major theme of his lecture will be the impact of the Civil War on the community, and civilian response to military occupation. This lecture will set the stage for new exhibits on Alexandria’s Civil War history opening at The Lyceum and Fort Ward Museum this year.

Barber is the author of the book, Alexandria in the Civil War (H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988). He is a historian at the National Portrait Gallery and the project coordinator for the Smithsonian’s Civil War website.

Reservations are recommended. Tickets may be purchased through the online shop at www.historicalexandria.org or by calling The Lyceum at 703.746.4994.

For more information, call 703.746.4994 or visit www.historicalexandria.org.