News

Glory! Hallelujah! The Band Goes Marching On at the Southern Museum

10/24/06

KENNESAW, GA –The strong marching beat and beautiful lyrics of a funeral tune, sung in tribute for a fallen soldier at a Union Army Camp in 1861, moved a woman to scrawl the inspirational words down to keep forever. Battle Hymn of the Republic, as it later became known, has since been played at the funerals of British Statesman Winston Churchill, Robert Kennedy, and American president Ronald Reagan.

This moving piece of music and history will be performed by the 8th Georgia Regimental Band at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History this November. Several other popular tunes from the Civil War will be performed as well, including Dixie, a Southern song written to “drive ‘way sorrow.”

The 25-member band presents military music from the Civil War as it was played by musicians on both sides of the conflict, in period costume, of course. According to the band, Civil War soldiers loved to dance and sing and they enjoyed the fiddle, flute and banjo, but the brass band was the "now" music of their time.

Learn more about the concert and join the Southern Museum for some of these other great events in November and December as well:

8th GA Band Concert. November 4, 7 pm. Enjoy the sounds of the 19th Century during a fun and educational concert by the 8th Georgia Regimental Band at the Museum. The hour and half performance will include Battle Hymn of the Republic and Dixie, popular American and Confederate tunes during the 1860s. Doors open at 6:30 pm, concert begins at 7 pm. Performance will include a 10-minute intermission. Admission: $8 (ages 4 & up) or free with Museum membership.

Georgia Watercolor Society Show. Through November 17. Pastoral landscapes and vivid portraits will enchant visitors to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History this fall as it hosts the Georgia Watercolor Society’s Annual Show. The paintings, ranging in style from realism and impressionism to contemporary and abstract, will be judged by nationally known watercolor artist and teacher Alex Powers, and are available for purchase. Free with Museum admission.

Homeschool Days. November 6, December 4. 10 am – 4 pm. Homeschooled students can explore the Museum’s exhibits for a special rate. Fun, interpretive programs offered throughout the day. Reservations not required. $4 per student (4-12 yrs),  $6 per adult, children 3 and under free. (Please note: the Museum does not provide group tours on Homeschool Days.) Contact the Education department for more information at 770-427-2117, ext. 114.

A Civil War Christmas. December 9, 10 am – 4 pm. Intricate Christmas ornaments and multi-colored lights illuminate trees, houses, and department stores during the holiday season. But during the Civil War, the Christmas was a time for families to spend time together, reminiscing about soldiers who were away at war, while decorating trees with wax ribbon, colored paper, popcorn balls, and sugared nuts and fruits. The Southern Museum relives the tradition of Christmas cheer, memories, and creativity this December, inviting children to try their hand at homemade ornaments. While kids craft inside, Union soldiers try to stay warm by the fire at an encampment outside, especially as they recall the warmth of Christmases past.

A Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms, and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about The Great Locomotive Chase, including a short movie; a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war; and through May, a traveling exhibit featuring photographs of the people who dedicated their lives to the railroad.

The Southern Museum is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, off I-75 at exit 273.  Click here for visitor information, or call (770) 427-2117.