Civil War & Emancipation Day set for April 14 | Arts & Culture

In early February of 1865, just two months before he was assassinated, President Abraham Lincoln, signed the 13th Amendment Resolution that ended slavery in the United States. A rare copy of that document – also signed by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, 37 senators and 111 congressmen who supported the resolution – will be on display for the first time in Virginia as part of the Third-Annual Civil War & Emancipation Day April 14 presented by The Future of Richmond’s Past.

The 13th Amendment Resolution, which is on loan from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, can be viewed from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Virginia Historical Society (and again April 15 from 1-5 p.m.).

The document is one of the highlights of Civil War & Emancipation Day, which again will commemorate the 150th anniversaries of the Civil War and the end of American slavery with a free, citywide educational experience from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The event offers free admission to nearly 30 museums and coordinating attractions, ranging from discussions and cannon firings to guided tours of historic Richmond sites and children’s games.

“It goes without saying that Richmond’s history is rich,” said Edward L. Ayers, the president of the University of Richmond and chair of The Future of Richmond’s Past. “This day commemorates the depth and complexities of our city’s history – it’s an opportunity to explore Confederate, Union and African-American history through exhibits, tours and discussions.”

This year’s Civil War & Emancipation Day also features other new events:

 *   A guided tour of the Richmond Slave Trail (9:30-11:30 a.m.) will start on foot at Ancarrow’s Landing and finish at Lumpkin’s Jail/Main Street Station. Shuttle bus departs Main Street Station at 9:30 a.m.

 *   The Virginia Historical Society will offer demonstrations of  “Unknown No Longer: A Database of Virginia Slave Names”

 *   Customized shuttle routes will run from the Boulevard to St. John’s Church

 *   The Science Museum of Virginia offers its “Race: Are we so different?” exhibit

 *   The Museum of the Confederacy will have the 15th Virginia regiment on site

 *   Dr. Sulayman Clark, author and lecturer, will speak about his book “The Rains: Voices for American Liberty” at 9:30 a.m., Library of Virginia, and 1:00 p.m. at Lumpkin’s/Main Street Station

 *   Lauranett Lee, curator of the Virginia Historical Society, will conduct a mini-lecture on the 13th Amendment

 *   The Richmond Adventure Race participants, with 17 teams already signed up, begins at 10 a.m. from the American Civil War Center.

For a full listing of events, visit: http://civilwar.emancipationday.net/

Civil War and Emancipation Day is produced by Future of Richmond’s Past, a collaborative effort among leaders of Richmond’s historical societies, museums, commissions, cultural and tourism organizations, and educational institutions to frame Richmond during the 150th commemoration. Admission to most sites and performances is free. Reservations and fees apply to the Civil War Sampler bus tour, special exhibits at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Richmond Adventure Race. This event is made possible by the generous support of Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, MeadWestvaco, McGuireWoods, LLC, Richmond National Battlefield Park, James E. Ukrop, UPS Foundation, the University of Richmond, Venture Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union University.