The National Civil War Museum

1 Lincoln Cir, Harrisburg, PA 17103, USA

Address:	1 Lincoln Cir, Harrisburg, PA 17103, USA
Phone:	+1 717-260-1861
Site:	nationalcivilwarmuseum.org
Rating:	4.5
Working:	10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–8PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 12–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 18

A Private User

Strengths of the museum include great artifacts and an unbiased telling of the civil war. Weaknesses - It was difficult to follow the timeline of the war - seemed to jump all over the place. The names of the same battle were mentioned in a caption but to a novice observer it would be confusing. For example Manassas and Bull Run are the same battle - but both names were intertwined into a sign without explanation. Other terms were not explained. State shapes without mention of the state name was confusing at times. More maps throughout as well as a visible timeline. The numbering system of many displays was really weak. There were also displays where the explanations were switched with the order of the artifacts. This museum has so much potential to be great...but it seems to lack a quality curator with attention for detail.

Samantha

If you are in Harrisburg/Hershey, you MUST put this museum on your to-do list. The price of admission is very inexpensive ($10 for military) and the display is absolutely impeccable. I honestly got emotional seeing all the relics, like uniforms filled with bullet holes, and knowing some young man fought and lost his life in the war. The life-size displays are incredible and so realistic. I just cant say enough good things about this exhibit! Im so glad we went! The gift shop is also filled with neat things that are very inexpensive to take home (we came out with a bag full that cost around $20). The tour is self guided, but you will enjoy every second of it and the attendant in the guest shop is quite helpful in telling you where to go. JUST GO TO THIS MUSEUM!!! :)

Douglas Cole

Excellent museum! (A Smithsonian Affiliated Museum) The museum building and grounds/views are spectacular. Great historical pieces and very informative. The layout was well thought out. This museum definitely provides an unbiased view between the north & south battle. When we visited we couldnt believe that we spent about 4 hours going through it all. A true treasure in Harrisburg, PA. Highly recommend if you are passing through the area. There is an admission charge but I got a great deal through Groupon for admission for two. (always great to save a few bucks). The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. The gift shop was nice and had some interesting pieces/treasures. If you are in Harrisburg add this and the Capitol Building to your to do list.

Angie B

I loved the location, and this was a quality learning experience that I am actually going to be going to again soon. (Tomorrow morning!) I also have the same problem with it as the others though. The noise from the exhibits was loud to the point of distraction so that it was hard to read the exhibit signs. (I can see this being a good thing if you go on a busy day and the drone of the crowd helps make everything turn into background noise, but when youre there alone its just very attention-grabbing.) Also some of the exhibits numbering systems were very confusing in their set up. Other than those two things? Its wonderful! My favorite part was where you could listen to excerpts from the songs of that time.

Gary Kerr

Anyone who has watched the show "Strange Inheritance" with host Jamie Colby, which aired on 3/9/15, should be angry and boycott the National Civil War museum in Harrisburg Pennsylvania for what they did to George Edward Pickett V who was a descendant and heir to original artifacts from Confederate General George Pickett. The Museums C.E.O "Wayne Motts" should be ashamed of himself that he is justifying having the museum keep artifacts that rightly belong to the general picket family, because of the fashion in which they obtain them. SHAME ON THE MUSEUM and especially SHANE ON C.E.O. Wayne Motts.

Christopher Eby

I like this museum because it does a good job of telling the story of the Civil War instead of just showing a lot of artifacts. I especially like the sequence of videos that follow different characters throughout the war, showing their motivations and experiences. The museum does an excellent job of being balanced and explaining the war from the perspective of both the North and the South. No matter what your opinion or knowledge level on the war is, I think you will find something to like here.

Rick Lupert

The National Civil War Museum is well worth the visit to see the views from the hill upon which it sits. The museum takes you on a linear, sometimes interactive tour of the events leading up to and after the war, combining video, interactive exhibits, and lots of artifacts to look at. Its easy to do in a couple of hours and would be great for elementary school kids on up...and is a worthy addition to the roster of Americas national museums.

LuAnn Wood

While the displays are great, and very informative, I cant give a 5 star endorsement. The lighting is terrible for these 63 year old eyes. Everything is so dark that the panels are very hard to read. I resorted to watching the video displays almost exclusively....they were very good. BTW I dont usually have trouble reading exhibits in museums so I dont think its me. Nevertheless, I will go back.

peter ten zijthoff

Zeer gaaf museum met heel veel info over de burgeroorlog tussen noord en zuid. De strijd over afschaffing van de slavernij. Uitgebreide collectie wat je zeker uren kunt doorbrengen.

Mason Wristen, BS, EA

Cost us $22 (regular fee for seniors each) to enter even though it closed in 1 hour (not fair!). No DVDs to purchase (would like to purchase the best reenactment) even though they have clips throughout the museum. It mentioned the Articles of Confederation - where are they? I thought the only issue was slavery (theres 12?) Otherwise, excellent museum. Employees are nice.

Edwin van Engelen

Uitgebreide collectie en zeker het bezichtigen waard. In de vakantie periode waren er op het buitenterrein reenactment activiteiten georganiseerd, leuk om te zien.

Danielle Settlemeyer

The museum is very well presented and does a good job of encompassing so many aspects of the Civil War, its causes, the effects it had on the country afterwards. I especially enjoyed the medical and instrumental portions of the museum, not always topics discussed when talking tactics, battles, and chronology of events.

Gary Sly

The exhibits were great. Would have been nicer to have some kind of electronic guide. A lot of the print was hard to read for old farts like us. The two staff.persons in the gift shop were unfriendly and rude to my wife and her servide dog. Been on the road three years and never treated like that.

Teresa Beard

This is my favorite museum. They take great care to be impartial and show all sides of a difficult story. The location is beautiful, both the building and the surrounding area. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I make a point of visiting any time Im near Harrisburg.

Edward Eddinger

A very nice museum with plenty of interesting artifacts and Civil War history from both Union and Confederate perspectives. I thought the slavery exhibition set the stage for the rest of the tour very well. A great learning experience!

Nathan Saint

Every History Buff will love this place and anyone studying or interested in the period of the Civil War will love it as well. They have interactive displays that attempt to appeal to different ages so there is something for everyone.

Vincent ten Zijthoff

Indrukwekkende plek! Er loopt een man rond met erg veel kennis van wapens een munitie. Erg leuk!

Mary Peshman

Enjoyed following several families experience from before the war, through it and immediately after. The museum is located in a beautiful setting. Lighting of the exhibits is generally dark and often produced a glare.