May 28th
In December of 2006, Mark Young opened the American Civil War Museum of Ohio (ACWMO) in downtown Bowling Green. His vision as curator of the museum is to allow people to gain an understanding of the Civil War beyond what they may have gotten in school textbooks and other common sources.
The museum provides the area with a unique educational resource. "I want to make sure that everyone realizes that the museum is here for the community," Young said. The museum is located at 123 E. Court Street, just east of Main St. in downtown Bowling Green, and is open Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and other times by appointment.
The museum has visual and interactive exhibits that are rotated frequently with over 350 artifacts on display. Several exhibits invite visitors to participate in a hands-on manner, such as in "Put It On" where visitors can dress in clothing and uniforms from the Civil War period. "The Soldiers Life" exhibit shows typical articles from the daily lives of soldiers in the Civil War, including toiletries, weapons, clothing and bibles. A full size replica of a camp site encourages the museum goer to imagine the everyday life of a Civil War soldier. "Prisoners of War" explores the POW experience and its influence on the outcome of the war. An inspiration for this exhibit comes from the Johnson's Island prisoner of war camp which was located on the island of that name in nearby Lake Erie. Pictures of the prisoners holding grounds, of prisoners in different activities, and letters from the prisoners to their families are included in this exhibit.