The
Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia (formerly the Civil War Library and Museum) in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, claims to be the oldest chartered
American Civil War institution in the United States. The museum was founded in 1888 by veteran officers of the
Union Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
On August 7, 2007, the museum announced that it would relocate to the former
First Bank of the United States building, near
Independence Hall. It was previously located at 1805 Pine Street near
Rittenhouse Square. Philadelphia Mayor
John F. Street presented the museum with a check for $1.2 million to assist in its relocation.,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 1, 2008
In 2009,
Governor Ed Rendell canceled the state's portion of the funding needed to relocate the museum, prompting the
National Park Service to withdraw its offer to use the First Bank building. The museum's collection remains in storage pending the designation of a new permanent home.,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 24, 2009
Collection
The museum's collection includes the mounted head of "
Old Baldy", the horse that was ridden by Union
Major General George G. Meade during most of the Civil War. Old Baldy's head was...
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