ANDERSONVILLE – On the evening of Saturday, Nov. 12, history will come alive as the popular “Night Museum” program returns to Andersonville National Historic Site. This event will include a living history demonstration, special programs, and a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the National Prisoner of War Museum and the historic Civil War prison site known as Andersonville at night.
From 6-9 p.m., visitors can experience the Civil War prison site by lantern light and meet living historians portraying Confederate guards and Union prisoners during the often-overlooked winter period of 1864-1865. Both the historic prison site and the National Prisoner of War Museum will be open during this time.
At 7 p.m., speaker Pat Curry will share his experience as the son of a Prisoner of War during a program titled “They Also Serve Who Stand and Wait”. Pat’s father, Lt. James Curry, spent nearly three years as a prisoner in North Korea. Pat will share his personal account of his father’s POW experience and the resulting struggles faced by Pat and the rest of his family as they waited for word of their loved one’s fate, coped with his long absence, and hoped for his safe return.
At 8 p.m., join a Park Ranger for “Night Sky Connections to our Ancestors”, a special outdoor program about starlight, symbolism, and the ways we are still connected to the night sky seen by Union and Confederate soldiers over 150 years ago. Please dress appropriately for the weather during this outdoor program and to observe our living history demonstration.
“A visit to Andersonville National Historic Site is a moving experience under any circumstance,” said Acting Superintendent Lisa McInnis, “but we hope that our Night Museum event will better illustrate the struggles Civil War prisoners endured during the winter months at Andersonville, as well as the struggles family members go through when their loved one is a prisoner of war. We are proud to offer this unique opportunity as part of our ongoing recognition of the 2016 Centennial of the National Park Service and its 100 years of preserving our nation’s shared history.”
Entrance into the park and all event activities are offered free of charge. Please note that Andersonville National Cemetery will not be open during this event.
For more information on the park, call 229 924-0343, or visit at www.nps.gov/ande/ Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AndersonvilleNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/andeNHS