One of the first blog posts I ever wrote on this blog was about the PA Civil War flags collection. It is a great digital resource of all of the flags that are currently protected by the PA Capital Preservation Committee. On October 4, 2023, the new Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center opened its doors at 2221 Forster Street, Harrisburg. I had the opportunity to tour the new facility as part of their grand opening event.
According to Jason Wilson, historian for the Pennsylvania Capital Preservation Committee, this remarkable collection comprises a total of 374 Union flags from the Civil War, along with 22 flags from the Spanish-American War. Additionally, the collection boasts several state militia company flags dating back to the early 1800s which offers valuable insights into the pre-Civil War era and the rich history of Pennsylvania’s military. Each of these flags serves as a memento of a fight to preserve the Union and a connection to the Pennsylvanians who participated in that war. Some are in tatters; others are riddled with bullet holes and blood stains. According to Wilson, the flag of the 97th Pennsylvania Regiment is believed to bear the bloodstain of the wounded flag-bearer who carried it and 107 bullet holes from the battle to capture Fort Fisher in Wilmington, N.C. Also on display are some of the flag staffs and they too bear some battle scars. Many of these staffs show signs of where they were struck by bullets and/or repairs made by soldiers.
In 1861, the Pennsylvania General Assembly made the decision to allocate funds to purchase Commonwealth flags, which were intended to serve as symbols of unity, valor, and the enduring spirit of Pennsylvania. Little did they know that these flags would bear witness to some of the most significant events in the state’s history. On Independence Day in 1866 in Philadelphia, General George Meade, commander of Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg, formally returned the Commonwealth flags to Pennsylvania. During the ceremony, Meade handed over the flags to Governor Andrew Curtin, stating “In the name of the soldiers of Pennsylvania, I present to you these banners, which were received from the State, and which were borne through the war with honor and credit, and of which we, as soldiers, are justly proud. Receive them, sir, as mementos of the prowess and deeds of valor of the noble sons of Pennsylvania.” These words captured the essence of the flags as symbols of Pennsylvania’s bravery and sacrifice during the Civil War. The flags were preserved and then in 1914, they were placed within display cases within the Pennsylvania State Capitol Rotunda. In 1985, the flags were removed from the rotunda to a storage facility in Harrisburg for preservation and conservation.
According to the PA Civil War Flags website, ” The conditions inside the flag display cases in the Capitol rotunda were far from ideal when the colors were originally installed in 1914. Dust had accumulated on the furled flags since the sheer net sleeves encasing them offered only minimal protection. Having the flags displayed for a long time in a vertical position while rolled on their staffs placed severe stress on the already fragile fabric. One of the Capitol Preservation Committee’s first endeavors was addressing the need to preserve Pennsylvania’s historic battle flags. Growing concern over the flags’ deteriorating condition prompted the establishment of the “Save the Flags” project. The work involved removing the flags from the rotunda so they could be unfurled, photographed, documented, treated, and prepared for long-term storage. ”
In addition to a new climate-controlled storage area for the flags, the new exhibit features several touch screens which allows visitors to browse the entire collection of 403 flags. These interactive displays allow visitors to about the battles where the flags were carried, the regiment each represents, and, in some instances, the flag bearer’s name. Another display tells the story behind the collection and in the welcome area, there are Civil War artifacts that help tell the full story of Pennsylvania’s role in the Civil War.
The Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center has tours by appointment only. To schedule a tour, contact Jason Wilson at (717) 783-6484 or jwilson@cpc.state.pa.us
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