By Jacob Lange
NKyTribune
The James A. Ramage Civil War Museum, located at 1402 Highlands Ave in Ft. Wright will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with its annual Battery Hooper Civil War Days
Free parking for the two-day event, Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August16, will be available at the Community of Faith Presbyterian Church located next to the museum. Food and drink stands will also be set up at the church.
Both days are filled with free and fun Civil War era activities for the whole family including a fully equipped Civil War field hospital sponsored by St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Thanks to its generous donations the Civil War field hospital will include surgical demonstrations, hospital laundry, outdoor cooking, and an eight-bed hospital steward.
Civil War-era cannons will fire at noon each day, as well as many other times throughout the afternoon as well as at the closing of each day’s events. Throughout the afternoon, Civil War soldier re-enactors will demonstrate horse riding techniques, how to fire muskets, and what camp life was like back during the Civil War.
Visitors will be allowed to see some of the rare exhibits inside the museum including a life mask of President Abraham Lincoln, made from casting his face during his presidency. Artwork by General Lew Wallace from the Lincoln Assassination Trial and Andersonville Prison Trials will also be on display.
From 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday, there will be reenactments of the Lincoln assassination and the Andersonville Trials, both Saturday and Sunday.
Closing the reenactments will be a presidential debate between President Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis between 3:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Other rooms inside the museum will contain Civil War muskets, swords, cannon balls, medical equipment, and documents from throughout the time period. Civil War reproduction uniforms, equipment, and books will be available for purchase throughout both days and all proceeds go towards supporting the museum.
Throughout the day children will be able to participate in activities such as face painting, Civil War era games, and the petting zoo filled with animals commonly seen during the civil war era.
Jacob Lange is a senior journalism major at the University of Kentucky.