IHS Civil War Trail: Tennesee Revisited trip

The Franklin Township Historical Society is not affiliated with the Indiana Historical Society, but the members of both organizations have similar interests. For that reason, you might be interested in this recent press release from the IHS:

Join us as we continue our travels in celebration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial this fall. During this trip, we explore both well-known and less familiar Civil War sites in Tennessee. Noted author and historian James Hoobler, senior curator for the Tennessee State Museum and former executive director of the Tennessee Historical Society, joins us and brings to life notable Tennessee battles and generals.

Our tour begins with a visit to Civil War and Reconstruction at the Tennessee State Museum. We travel on to Shiloh to learn about the controversial Battle of Shiloh and its connection to Indiana and General Lew Wallace. From there, we follow John Bell Hood’s campaign, learning about the Battle of Franklin with stops at Fort Granger, Winstead Hill, Carter House and Carnton Plantation, the setting for the New York Times bestseller Widow of the South. We’ll also visit Harrison House, a private home and formerly General Hood’s headquarters, and enjoy a progressive dinner in three significant Civil War era homes: Elm Spring, Rippavilla Plantation and Ferguson Hall.

To register or receive more information please contact Jennifer Hiatt at 317-234-2670 or e-mail at jhiatt@indianahistory.org.

General Lew Wallace Study & Museum

A few days ago, I had the privilege of making a special tour of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum in Crawfordsville, IN, an easy morning's drive west of Indianapolis. If you have not had a chance to learn about this great American hero and author, I encourage you to make the trip!

Lew Wallace fought in two American wars (most notably in the Civil War, where he successfully defended both Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, OH from major Confederate attacks), served as governor of the New Mexico territory -- where he famously made a plea bargain with Billy the Kid, who later violated the agreement by breaking out of prison -- and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. He presided over the trial of the conspirators who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. He was also an artist, a musician, an inventor and technological enthusiast. But he is best known as the author of the best-selling novel of the 19th century, a Biblical epic titled Ben-Hur. The book has been made into four motion pictures -- one of which is still tied for the record of most Academy Awards ever won by a single film -- an equally groundbreaking Broadway stage play, two stage musicals, and more.

The study, an exotic building of Wallace's own design and decorated with carved faces of characters from his books, is a delightful tour for those interested in history or architecture. It has been preserved in an almost undisturbed state -- it still contains Wallace's furniture, library and personal effects -- and is currently undergoing restoration on the interior to restore the original paint and intricate murals that were covered at some point in the past.

Also open is the visitor's center, originally the site's carriage house -- the gift shop is located in the stall belonging to the horse Wallace rode in the Civil War -- which houses an informative exhibit on historic preservation. For tour information, please visit the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum website.

Special Events

For Civil War enthusiasts, the museum is hosting a number of lectures and reenactments throughout the month of July, including lectures on the Underground Railroad, Civil War photographer Matthew Brady, and Mary Todd Lincoln. For more information, please visit http://ben-hur.com/aboutus/newsevents.html.