The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia interprets the struggle for freedom, equality and national unity in 19th century America, in order to inspire a better understanding of that struggle and a renewed dedication to its importance today.

Welcome to the website for
the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia

Founded in 1888 by veteran Union Army, Navy and Marine corps officers, ours is the oldest chartered Civil War institution in the United States created to preserve the history of that conflict, and to promote public education through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts and written and photographic documents.

With nine galleries of displays and exhibits, the Museum's holdings include more than 3,000 artifacts, more than 7,000 photographs, hundreds of art works, and about 400 cubic feet of archival material. Firearms, edged weapons, uniforms, paintings, photographs and flags are among the many objects on permanent display. Our Changing Gallery displays material on subjects such as women in the War, military railroads, prisons and prisoners of war, and the experiences of black soldiers. Our collection of material from the Confederacy includes President Jefferson Davis' s smoking jacket, a scarf of Colonel John S. Mosby, and the blanket used by Captain Henry Wirz, commandant of Andersonville Prison, while awaiting his execution.

And our Library of more than 7,000 volumes constitutes one of the foremost collections of material related to the Civil War, and the individuals involved in it, in the United States. Taken together, our Museum maintains the largest single assemblage of Civil War related material outside government institutions.

Be sure to come and see us on your next visit to Philadelphia. Meanwhile, enjoy our website, and preview a sampling of our remarkable collection.