4/17/02
The historic Jenkins Plantation Museum, located in the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area of Cabell County, will host a Civil War Camp on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The living history program is free and open to the public.
Spectators at the outdoor event will get a glimpse of how soldiers lived and fought during the Civil War. Civil War enthusiasts in period costume will demonstrate how combatants lived in the encampments and take part in military exercises and drills similar to those led 140 years ago by Albert Gallatin Jenkins, a confederate general with the 8th Virginia Cavalry. A number of infantry, cavalry and artillery units will conduct mock skirmishes at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors are invited to join the re-enactors at noon and 2 p.m. by participating in drills, loading and shooting weapons.
In addition, Civil War-era artifacts from the collection of the West Virginia State Museum will be on display, information about unclaimed Civil War medals will be available and special hands-on activities will help children explore Civil War life. The historic Jenkins family home also will be open for tours.
To round out the day’s activities, author Michael Weaver of Camp Hill, Pa., will be at the Jenkins Plantation Museum for a book signing. His historic fiction novel, “Jenkins in Mechanicsburg: The Confederate Attempt on Pennsylvania’s Capital,” contains many local and national Civil War facts. It interweaves the story of the lives of the citizens of Mechanicsburg with the life of Confederate General Albert Jenkins and his march into Mechanicsburg in an effort to capture Harrisburg just days before the battle of Gettysburg. Weaver also will discuss the book and answer questions at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The Jenkins Plantation Museum is located on West Virginia Route 2 between Huntington and Point Pleasant. A facility of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, the museum features the former home of General Albert Gallatin Jenkins. The 1835 house, built in the tradition of Tidewater, Va., is noteworthy for its architecture and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum, which has been closed for repairs, will reopen for the Civil War Camp on May 11. Regular operating hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The museum was recently added to the Civil War Discovery Trail, which links more than 500 sites in 28 states to inspire and to teach the story of the Civil War and its enduring impact on America. The trail, an initiative of the Civil War Preservation Trust, includes battlefields, historic homes, stations on the Underground Railroad, cemeteries, parks and other destinations that help bring history to life.
For more information about the Jenkins Plantation Museum, contact Matt Boggess by e-mail at matt.w.boggess@wv.gov or by phone at (304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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