Special Exhibitions
Civil War Innovation & Technology
March 22, 2025 – June 7, 2026
The Civil War was a turning point not just in American history, but in the advancement of technology. Civil War Innovation & Technology explores the groundbreaking developments that reshaped medicine, transportation, communication, daily life, and warfare. From battlefield surgery and the rise of anesthesia to the expansion of railroads and the introduction of the telegraph, these innovations changed the way people lived and fought. The war also drove advancements in farming tools, household necessities, and military weaponry, including the emergence of ironclad ships and rapid-fire guns. Through artifacts, interactive displays, and historical accounts, this exhibit highlights how necessity and ingenuity during the Civil War laid the foundation for many modern technologies.
Riding for the Union: The 8th Illinois Cavalry
Opens Saturday, June 20, 2026
From 1861 to 1865, the 8th Illinois Cavalry—a Federal horse mounted regiment from Northern Illinois—traveled east to serve in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Upon volunteering, many of the soldiers had little to no experience riding or working with horses. After four years of service, these amateurs transformed themselves into one of the finest fighting cavalry units in the Union Army.
Riding for the Union tells the story of the 8th Illinois Cavalry through the lens of the Marshall D. Krolick Collection. Artifacts, photographs, first-hand accounts, and Krolick’s own research will guide visitors through the regiment’s journey.
“They were farm boys, store clerks and factory workers from the cities, towns and prairies of Illinois. If those who enlisted in the regiment were even vaguely familiar with a horse in 1861, it was the result of walking behind it with a plow or having it pull a wagon…Yet they came together to form one of the finest cavalry regiments of the Civil War…. Among the men there existed a pride that glowed within each of them for the rest of their lives whenever they said, “I rode for the Union with the 8th Illinois Cavalry.”
Marshall D. Krolick–lawyer, historian, author, collector and authority on the soldiers and history of the 8th Illinois Cavalry
Coming Soon
Ongoing Exhibitions
The Fiery Trial
First Floor–admission required
The Fiery Trial tells the personal stories of the men and women of the Upper Middle West – specifically Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Through state-of-the-art museum technology, life-size dioramas, and interactive engaging Exhibition , visitors travel back in history to the social, political, and economic influences that contributed to the Civil War.
Seeing the Elephant Film
First Floor; Inside the Fiery Trial–admission required
Seeing the Elephant is the term Civil War soldiers used to describe their first experience with combat. This high-tech digital movie experience in The Fiery Trial Exhibition gives visitors a glimpse at “the Elephant.” One of just a handful of venues nationwide using 360º movie technology, this 10-minute film incorporates visual and sound effects as well as ground motion to enhance viewers’ movie experience.
Veterans Memorial Gallery
First Floor
The Civil War Museum is proud to honor all US soldiers and veterans. Reflective of the theme, “Solidarity of Soldiers,” this gallery depicts Civil War soldiers huddled around a campfire under a twilight sky.
Virtual Exhibitions
Coming soon.
Past Exhibitions
Take a look back at some of the powerful stories and unique artifacts featured in our past exhibitions. Each one offered a new perspective on the people and events that shaped the Civil War era.
Sign up for our eNewsletter!
News about Civil War Museum workshops, events, exhibits, and more, delivered to your inbox
