Friday, March 23, 2012: Lexington's Civil War
All Friday Events are free and open to the public.
Activities available throughout the day, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:
Museums: Stonewall Jackson House; VMI Museum, Lee Chapel Museum
Art Exhibit: Land Not Lost: Contemporary Views of the Virginia Landscape. This exhibition of photography and paintings presents contemporary Virginia artists whose works illustrate a deep connection with the regional landscape, over which nearly sixty percent of the American Civil War took place. Staniar Gallery, The Lenfest Center, Washington and Lee University
9:15 a.m. (doors open at 9:00 a.m.)
Opening Lecture: “Washington College in the Civil War”
Lee Chapel Washington and Lee University. This lecture is cosponsored and hosted by Lee Chapel and Museum.
Dr. J. Holt Merchant, Professor of History at Washington and Lee University received his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Virginia. Dr. Merchant, whose special research interests include Robert E. Lee, Sectionalism, Secession and Civil War, will speak about the role of Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, leading up to and during the Civil War.
10:30 a.m.
Walking Tour of Lexington (Meet your guide in front of Lee Chapel)
Put on your comfortable shoes and explore the downtown historic district with an expert guide to learn about the town that both T. J. “Stonewall” Jackson and Robert E. Lee called home.
12:00 p.m.
Cadet Guided Tour of the VMI Post
Gather in the Lobby of the VMI Museum (Level 200) in Jackson Memorial Hall for a cadet tour of the Institute. Tour lasts approximately 50 minutes. For more information call the VMI Museum at 540.464.7334
1:00 p.m.
Lunch on your own.
Lexington offers a great variety of sandwich shops and small restaurants within a two block area. Try a new location or return to your favorite. (Dining information available at the Lexington Visitor Center at 106 East Washington Street or at www.lexingtonvirginia.com.)
2:00 p.m.
Stonewall Jackson Cemetery Tour (Meet at the cemetery gates on south Main Street.) Tour the cemetery with a local guide and learn about the Confederate veterans and other distinguished individuals buried there.
3:30 p.m.
Lecture: “Virginia Military Institute in the Civil War: ‘The Institute Will be Heard From Today’.” Jackson Memorial Hall, VMI Post
Col. Keith Gibson, Executive Director, VMI Museum Programs
Colonel Gibson received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the VMI in 1977, followed by graduate studies at George Washington University and James Madison University. He is the author of Virginia Military Institute, a photographic history of VMI and Moses Ezekiel: Civil War Soldier; Renowned Sculptor. Col Gibson has worked on a number of feature films and documentaries as a historical consultant.
4:30 p.m. VMI Dress Parade. Watch the 1500 member VMI Cadet Corps perform a Retreat Parade similar to that which Jackson observed.
