News : Civil War display to be in Vinton during Party in the Park

A traveling Civil War display will be in Vinton June 25.

VINTON—The Benton County Historical Society is sponsoring a Civil War display honoring the Iowa soldiers who served and died in the Civil War.

“The Fiery Trial: Iowa and the Civil War,” hits the road in a 32-foot trailer and is part of the State Historical Museum’s educational outreach program to serve Iowans in their communities. The exhibit was unveiled April 12, 2011, in conjunction with activities commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

The free display will be open to the public at the Riverside Park in Vinton as party of the city’s Party in the Park celebration on June 25th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

“The Fiery Trial” exhibit includes:

• A visual timeline of Iowa’s participation in the Civil War
• Panels about Iowans and their Civil War experiences
• Information about Annie Wittenmyer, a Sanitation Agent for Iowa who oversaw the needs of Union Army soldiers
• The impact of the Civil War on Iowa
• The role Iowa played in the Civil Rights movement when it approved the right to vote for African-Americans
• A computer program that allows visitors to research Civil War ancestors by person, town, township or congressional district

The Department of Cultural Affairs received generous support for “The Fiery Trial” from sponsors EMC Insurance Foundation of Des Moines, The Union Pacific Foundation, and Qwest.

For more information contact Barry Lefstad at 319-560-1923