Genesee Country Village & Museum to host “Muster at Mumford: Civil War in the Genesee Valley”

Visitors to Genesee Country Village & Museum’s “Muster at Mumford: Civil War in the Genesee Valley”, being held Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25, will step beyond battles and behind front lines to explore the impact of the Civil War on life in 19th-century Western New York. The Civil War changed the social, economic, cultural, and political landscape of the United States in profound ways that continue to impact life today. Throughout the weekend, visitors can learn about military and civilian Civil War history from a variety of guest interpreters and see, touch, and try history for themselves. Tickets for “Muster at Mumford: Civil War in the Genesee Valley” are available online now at www.gcv.org/event/muster-at-mumford/ or can be purchased at the door.

Military History

The Village Square in the Historic Village will become the camp of the 140th NYVI, Army of the Potomac and visitors can experience the daily realities of Union soldiers. Each day visitors can:

• Watch live weapon demonstrations showcasing Civil War-era muskets, rifles, and artillery in action.

• Learn about the gear New York State volunteers carried into battle with Civil War Era specialist and costumer Guy Gane.

• Explore the contrasting lives of Federal officers and enlisted men through engaging, first-person interpretation with living historians Chase Petro and Michael Courter.

• Connect past and present as re-enactor Jacob Bates examines how Civil War memory lives on today through film, photography, and social media.

• Discover 19th-century medical treatment and the plant-based remedies used to care for Civil War soldiers.

• Try military drills, where young visitors can march, maneuver, and simulate the loading and firing of wooden muskets, just as Civil War soldiers did.

Hands-on History & Civilian Life

Throughout the Historic Village, there will be activities that invite visitors of all ages to see, touch, and try history for themselves. Don’t miss:

• Stirring performances by historian and actor David Shakes, portraying Frederick Douglass

• Spelling your name in Morse code at the Telegraph Office and exploring how rapid communication transformed the war.

• Posing for a likeness and taking home a vintage portrait ($) with historic photographer Ben Rosiek.

• Witnessing demonstrations of blacksmithing and coopering, two vital trades during the Civil War, and watching as artisans craft ironware, tools, and barrels—essential for keeping troops equipped.

Enslavement & Freedom in the Genesee Valley

Before, during, and after the Civil War, slavery and its insidious impacts were present and are still felt in the Genesee Valley. GCV&M invites visitors to engage with our new Seeking Freedom Initiative, which illuminates the complex history of enslavement, resistance, and freedom in New York State.

• Visit the Rochester House to explore new exhibit panels and engage with interpreters sharing stories of Black New Yorkers navigating life in a changing nation.

• Take the “Toward Freedom and Fairness” walking tour on Saturday or Sunday at 1 p.m. to learn about the fight for Black freedom and civil rights in our region.

Borderland Blacks Lecture

On Sunday, May 25 at 1 p.m., dann j. Broyld, Associate Professor of African American History at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, will present fascinating stories from his book Borderland Blacks: Two Cities in the Niagara Region during the Final Decades of Slavery. Dr. Broyld will take us on a journey through the powerful experiences of Black Communities during the Civil War era living along the U.S.-Canada Border.

Tickets for Muster at “Mumford: Civil War in the Genesee Valley” are on sale at www.gcv.org. Tickets are free for Museum Members, $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (62+) and students (13 – 18), $11 for youths (4 – 12), and free for kids 3 and under.

Photo captions:

•  Photo 1: Don’t miss Muster at Mumford at Genesee Country Village & Museum, Friday, May 23-Sunday, May 25!

•  Photo 2: Explore the impact of the Civil War on the Genesee Valley Region when you visit GCV&M for Muster at Mumford, coming up Friday, May 23-Sunday, May 25!

•  Photo 3: dann j. Broyld, Associate Professor of African American History at UMass Lowell will present stories from his book Borderland Blacks: Two Cities in the Niagara Region during the Final Decades of Slavery on Sunday, May 25 at GCV&M.

~

 GCV&M is the largest living history museum in New York State with the largest collection of historic buildings in the Northeast. The Museum, with its John L. Wehle Gallery, working brewery, vintage base ball park, and Nature Center, is located in Mumford, NY, 20 miles southwest of Rochester and 45 miles east of Buffalo. Visit www.gcv.org for more information.