December 11, 2012-February 27, 2013
Special Exhibition in the Center for Education and Leadership

The American Civil War is one of the defining events in American history. To commemorate its 150th anniversary, Ford’s Theatre will present Torn in Two: 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. This exhibition, created by the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library, takes a geographic and cartographic approach to exploring and illuminating the causes of the conflict, the conduct of the War and how the War was remembered in later years. It will showcase historic maps interwoven with photographs, prints, political cartoons, music and press of the period, largely from the Boston Public Library’s special collections.

The exhibition is divided into three major temporal sections. The initial section, “Rising Tensions,” examines the economic, social and political differences between North and South that led to war. “Nation in Conflict,” focuses on the War itself—the strategies and how it was conducted as well as how those at home followed the War’s progress and contributed to the war effort. And the final section, “Remembering Heroes,” documents the nation’s attempts to commemorate the battles and honor the lives that were lost during the War.

Tickets
Special exhibitions are included as part of regular daytime visit tickets to Ford’s Theatre. Patrons with tickets to a mainstage theatre performance may also visit the exhibits. Patrons with tickets to an evening performance can visit the Center exhibits beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Center remains open until 6:30 p.m. Matinee patrons can visit the Center’s exhibits before or after the performance.

Gallery Talks
Ford’s Theatre will present a series of free gallery talks related to the exhibition. Tickets for the gallery talks are available on the day of the talk at the box office. Dates and topics are:

• Thursday, December 20, at 12:30 p.m.
  Thenceforward and Forever Free: the Quest for Emancipation in the United States
  Join Dr. Debra Newman Ham, a professor of history at Morgan Stage University, as she discusses the quest for emancipation in the United States. Dr. Ham served from 1986 to 1995 as the Specialist in Afro-American History and Culture in the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress, and from 1972 to 1986 as an archivist and Black History Specialist at the National Archives.
• Thursday, February 21, at 12:30 p.m.
  Remembering the War: Creating the Gettysburg Post-Battle Maps
  Join Ronald E. Grim, Curator of Maps for the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library as he shares how the maps of the Battle of Gettysburg were created and how their creation shaped the how generations remembered the Civil War.

Teacher Workshops: Civil War Mapping
Grades 4 and 5, January 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m.;
Grade 8, January 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
As part of the presentation of this temporary exhibition, Curator Ronald E. Grim from the Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library will use the materials from the exhibition to explore creative ways to teach the Civil War, and will demonstrate a unique approach to using maps as a primary source for classroom teaching that goes well beyond "latitude and longitude." Free. Registration required.

Please note: There will be occasions when the Center will be closed for special events.