Current Exhibits
"Gearing Up for the Civil War Sesquicentennial: The Business Papers of Colin J. McRae"
 One of the most unique collections of primary source Civil War documents found in the last one hundred years, the recently discovered papers of General Colin J. McRae, the Confederacy’s chief financial agent in Europe, provide new evidence on the Confederacy’s ability to equip its soldiers with foreign arms, munitions, and supplies.
Opening October 15, 2008, “Gearing Up for the Civil War Sesquicentennial: The Colin J. McRae Business Papers” showcases several of these rare documents, along with examples of foreign equipment purchased by the Confederacy. McRae’s undisturbed and intact papers reveal the story of the Confederacy’s lifeline to England, the involvement of South Carolina’s business community in financing the war effort, as well as the types and amounts of English goods that were reaching the Confederate soldiers on the battlefield. While in England, McRae oversaw the investigation and audit of Confederate Ordnance Department purchasing agent Caleb Huse and his dealings with S. Isaac Campbell & Company. The documents collected for the investigation are included in the McRae archival collection and they provide a rare insight into the types of items Huse purchased from English companies as well as their quantities, prices through invoices, inspection certificates, and insurance agreements.
 As the title implies, the McRae archival collection will be part of a unique, large-scale exhibit opening during the national Civil War Sesquicentennial Anniversary in April 2011. The exhibit will combine the information in the McRae archival collection with artifacts and interactive displays to link South Carolina’s involvement with Confederate banking, purchasing, and supply to the entire Southern war effort
“Gearing Up for the Civil War Sesquicentennial: The Colin J. McRae Business Papers” closes on January 9, 2009.
“Forgotten Stories: South Carolina Fights the Great War”
 This focuses on the military history of the war, strategies used during it, and how the war is a part of South Carolina's military tradition. The exhibit themes examine various aspects of the war such as the forgotten story of the African-American 371st Infantry Regiment, trench warfare, the use of artillery, the new use of airplanes, Medal of Honor winners from SC, and the American Red Cross.
The exhibit is open through December 6, 2009 and features a replica trench visitors can walk through to while  learning about trench life. Listen to patriotic music from the period and explore South Carolina’s role in the Great War through touch-screen kiosks. The exhibit also features over 200 artifacts and lifelike mannequins. This exhibit is part of a grant-funded project which includes other local institutions. Visit the project website www.scforwardtogether.org.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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