Civil War School Day: Stations and Descriptions
This is a Milton House annual event. (Janesville)
We are about a week out. Here is a list of our current planned stations. I hope to have the schedule and map ready by early next week.
Stations start every 30 minutes starting at 8:30. These are more free form and will vary in length depending on the presenter’s preference. and how engaged the kids are. There may be a time where each station is closed for lunch. Please be respectful of our reenactors and their desire to rest and eat.
Current stations are as follows:
Dancing-Kids will get an opportunity to learn how to dance some of the most popular dances of the era. At the time Dancing was one of the major social events that young men and women would attend. Special Note: Dances from the era were very social affairs and were the best place to get to know other people. When going to the dance you were expected to dance with different people. The dances are not like modern dances in which you can dance by yourself. The dances that you will learn are Line dances in which a line of boys will be opposite a line of girls. Kids will be expected to hold hands with those next to them of the same gender as well as kids of the opposite gender in the other line. Kids may also be assigned a partner in the line opposite them. If this is a problem then you may want to skip this station.
Medical- Kids will get to learn about the medical practices during the Civil War. This year we are looking to have a heavily stocked medical area including a Surgeons, Nurses, Medical Stewards.
Undertaker-At this station you will learn what happen with those soldiers that succombed to their wounds or were killed on the battlefield.
Women’s Fashion and Etiquette-Learn about the layers of womens clothes and why they wore them.
Underground Railroad-Talk to an Abolitionist as they walk you through what the underground railroad was.
Soldier Camp Life-See what life was like in camp and what the soldiers did when not in the field.
Soldier’s Games-Learn and play some of the games that soldiers played when the had free time.
Tent Setup-Try your hand at setting up a soldier's tent (called a dog tent).
Letters to Lincoln- Write a letter to Lincoln or a soldier. These letters will be read by the Soldiers on Sunday at a mail call. Some suggestions on things to write and some names of some of the soldiers will be included.
Milton House Tour-You can take a slightly shortened tour of the Milton House and learn about the Milton Houses' place in history.
Harriet Beecher Stowe-Learn about the woman whom President Lincoln said "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war."
Kid Games- Come play different games that kids played back 160 years ago. Some you may even recognize.
HH Bennet-Learn about photography in the 19th Century. You will get to see what it took to take a picture in the earlier days of photography.
Railroad Club- Learn about the Iron Horse and how it helped the North win the Civil War.
Mannequin Dressing- Dress up mannequins in period clothes so that you and your kids can learn about the clothing of the area.
Printing Press- Meet with our printer and see how documents were created 160 years ago.
Telegraph- Try your hand at sending messages in the phone system of the time.
USCT Luther-Learn about the USCT (US Colored Troops) and their impact upon the war. Thousands of African American's enlisted to help fight for the North and were instrumental in helping to win the war. Most of these men where put into specific USCT units and served with distinction
Civil War Songs-Sing songs with our Song Master. You will sing several popular songs from the era.
Artillery-Kids will learn about how the Artillery Functioned during the Civil War and will watch as the crew loads and fires off a round or two. Note: This station can be very loud when the cannon is fired.
Student Drill-Kids will be formed into ranks and taught how to become Infantrymen. This is a hands on station in which the kids will use a wooden gun and learn how to march and drill like a soldier
Rounders-Kids will get an opportunity to learn what Baseball was like during the Civil War. At the time the game was called Rounders. Some if not all of the kids will be formed into two teams and a short game will be played.
Lincoln-Get a chance to meet the President. He will provide insights into his life and will answer any questions you have.