Monroe, Michigan, Historical Museum to Open Civil War Artifacts Display

The Monroe County Historical Museum in Monroe, Michigan, will open a special Civil War Artifacts Display on September 29, 2007.

The Custer Artifacts

Among the Civil War artifacts that will be displayed are General George Armstrong Custer's Kepi, a handwritten field report from November of 1863, and the sword that saved the general's life at Gettysburg. Monroe is the adopted hometown of General Custer.

Additional Custer items included for display are the general's brother Boston Custer's rifle and General Custer's Grand Review horse's original grave marker. Boston Custer was killed along with his brothers George and Tom at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Also displayed will be the Trevillian Station Collection which includes General Custer's wedding uniform.

The Artifacts from the Union

Other Civil War items to be displayed are fifteen artifacts once belonging to President Abraham Lincoln.

Amongst the miscellaneous artifacts to be featured are a Michigan soldier's rifle, an engraved cased pistol from the 5th Michigan Cavalry, and various Civil War uniforms and accoutrements.

The Artifacts from the Confederacy

The Confederacy will be represented in the display as well. General Robert E. Lee's boots will be on loan from a private collection in New Rumley, Ohio.

General Lee's sword will also be on display along with a picture of the Confederate general.

About the Museum

The Monroe County Historical Museum is at 126 S. Monroe St. in Monroe. For further information about the Civil War Artifacts Display or the museum's hours, call 734-240-7780.

Monroe's Ninth Annual Custer Week

The Civil War Artifacts Display is one of the events of Monroe's Ninth Annual Custer Week. Custer Week is a week long educational program intended to educate and inform Monroe citizens about their most famous resident, General Custer.

Events planned for the Custer Week Civil War Celebration include educational speeches throughout the week and living history programs on the weekend. The week will conclude with the reenactment of General George and Libbie Custer's 1864 wedding.

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