The Grand Army of the Republic: Our First Supporters
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum got its start 125 years ago as G.A.R. Memorial Hall. Maybe you’ve seen those three letters—G.A.R.—elsewhere, like at a cemetery, on a historic building, or in an old newspaper article. What does G.A.R. mean and how is it connected to the museum? G.A.R. stands for Grand
Hosea Rood: Our First Custodian
On May 30th, 1845, Marianna Rood (nee Thorngate) and her husband Charles Persons Rood gave birth to their first child, Hosea Whitford Rood. Later that year, the family moved from Persia, New York to Wisconsin and settled in Waushara County. At the age of 16, Rood enlisted in Company E
125 Years of Sharing Our Veterans’ Stories
Our Story Born out of the desire of Civil War veterans to honor the service of their comrades and to educate future generations about the cost of liberty and the continued effort required to protect our freedom, this organization has collected, preserved and shared the stories of Wisconsin veterans since
Lincoln’s Railcar Plate
By: Andrea Hoffman (Collections Manager) In November of 1864, the United States Military Railroad’s car shop in Alexandria, Virginia began construction of a new official railcar for President Abraham Lincoln. When it was completed a few months later, the new car, dubbed the “United States,” was considered the most opulent private