Message-ID: <SNT104-W291CF88B27B93337338379A1110@phx.gbl> From: Destinee Udelhoven <destineekae@hotmail.com> Subject: Portage to Host City-Wide Civil War Weekend of Events Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:54:13 -0500
~THE CIVIL WAR REMEMBERED~
Portage to Commemorate The American Civil War with Weekend of Family-Friend
ly Events
The City of Portage joins towns, cities, museums, and historic sites
across the country in declaring 2011 the Year of the Civil War. In commemor
ation of this transformative era’s 150th anniversary, Portage is hostin
g the “Civil War Remembered” on Friday, September 9 through Sunday,
September 11. Several locations and venues across Portage are participat
ing, with a weekend slate of events and programming planned.
The Portage Center for the Arts, 301 East Cook Street, will present “
A Heart Divided” by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld on Friday and Satu
rday at 7:30PM and Sunday at 2PM. This play explores the impact of the Ame
rican Civil War on race relations and teen friendships yet today—150 year
s later! This thought-provoking and gripping play directed by Dr. Xan S. Jo
hnson sheds light on a controversy that continues to divide our national he
art—the Confederate flag; historical icon or racist symbol?
Then, on Saturday, the Historic Indian Agency House will hold a Union S
oldier Training Camp for Kids. This day camp will immerse young participant
s in the emotional and physical rigors of wartime, with sessions led by k
nowledgeable educators focused on “mustering into service,” marching
in formation, a lunch of hard tack and dried beef, and “letters from
the front.” Each young soldier will be “issued supplies” that they w
ill get to take home at the end of the day, including a canvas bag, a w
ooden rifle, a Union soldier’s cap and water canteen. There is a disco
unted participation fee of $8 per child for this event—amounting to much
less than the actual cost of the take-home supplies alone, thanks to a ge
nerous grant from the Great Circle Foundation. Reservations are required,
with only thirty-six spots available for children ages 8 to 12. Enlist you
r little soldier today by calling 608-742-6362. (Only 2 spots left as of to
day, August 24, 2011.)
To wrap up Portage’s “Civil War Remembered” weekend, the Historic I
ndian Agency House will host Wisconsin’s celebrated 1st Brigade Band on t
he lawn of its 1832 Agency House on Sunday, September 11 at noon. This 40
-plus piece band is based on the original 18-man 1864 Brodhead Band which e
nrolled in the Union Army as the “1st Brigade Band of the 3rd Division,
15th Army Corps” and served under the famed General William T. Sherman.
The modern 1st Brigade Band pays homage to these historical roots by perfor
ming in Civil War dress and playing antique Civil War-era instruments—val
uable historic artifacts in their own right. Since 1964, the group has
performed for audiences across the region and country (including a 1990 ree
nactment of the “Grand Review of the Troops” in Washington, D.C.),
and their recorded music has been featured in a variety of television netwo
rks, such as the 1995 Illinois Lincoln and Douglas Debate Reenactments,
televised by C-Span, and A&E’s 1996 Civil War Journal.
This stirring experience will be offered FREE of charge (with donations gra
tefully accepted ), thanks to the financial support of the Great Circle F
oundation, City of Portage Tourism Promotion Committee, and Sean Malone
State Farm Insurance. Concessions will be available on site, and guests
are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.
In addition to these events, the Museum at the Portage and Historic India
n Agency House will be showcasing special Civil War exhibitions, explorin
g the participation of Wisconsinites to the war effort and the impact of th
is bloody battle on the citizens and social landscape of our great State.
The Agency House exhibit, sponsored by Trans Works Transmissions, will
feature an authentic reproduction of John Kinzie’s officer’s jacket,
worn during his tenure as a Paymaster for the Union army.
To help visitors take advantage of this multiple-day event, the Portage
Best Western and Super 8 are generously offering a special “Civil War Wee
kend” discount of 15% of room rates (to take advantage of this offer, m
ention the “Civil War Remembered” discount when making your reservation
s).
Visitors in town for Portage’s “The Civil War Remembered” and other i
nterested parties are also encouraged to consider Portage’s NEW Passport
to the Past. This $20 passport allows holders access to all of Portage’s
cultural sites for one low price, including the American Legion State Hea
dquarters and Museum, Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters, the Historic In
dian Agency House, the Museum at the Portage, the Portage WWII Museum
, the Portage Center for the Arts and the Zona Gale Home. Passports can b
e purchased at all participating locations, as well as the Portage Area C
hamber of Commerce. Call 608-742-6242 or visit www.portagewi.com for more
information.
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________
Destinee K. Udelhoven
Executive Director
Historic Indian Agency House
Portage, Wisconsin
(608) 742 - 6362
War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading.
~Thomas Hard
y
2011 is the Year of the Civil War at the Historic Indian Agency House,
with a packed calendar of related events!
Visit www.agencyhouse.org to find out more.