Extensive Civil War exhibit on display in Savanna

By Susan Jessen

SAVANNA, Ill. — It’s an unassuming building in Savanna, on Illinois 84 just off the Sabula-Savanna Bridge.

But to step inside the doorway is to step back in time, back when the nation’s people were at war — with each other.

The Savanna Historical Society/Civil War Museum currently is presenting the “Gallery of Civil War Soldiers, “ a huge collection of full-size mannequins adorned in authentic reproductions of Civil War uniforms from across the nation. The display is the personal collection of Gene Wright, a history teacher in the Savanna school system for more than 30 years. In an effort to bring history to life for his students, Wright wore the dress of the characters who were the subject of his class lectures. So popular were Wright’s recreations, he began to purchase mannequins that he dressed and equipped with Civil War uniforms, weapons and props, to use in his lectures.

That was in 1980. To date, Wright has amassed close to 80 mannequins, each outfitted in the garb of his home state/regional regiment. And the collection includes women and children, each adorned in the outfits of the roles they played in the war — like Harriet Tubman, instrumental in her work with the Underground Railroad, and Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War physician who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The primary focus, though, is on the soldiers, both Union and Confederate. What is most striking is the variety of uniforms worn by Civil War soldiers. Rather than the standard “federal-issue” uniforms of blue and gray generally associated with each side, the display is a myriad of colors, from bright reds to wildcat skins to tasseled hats and kilts. Wright explained men going off to battle generally wore the garb of their state or regiment rather than the “standard issue.”

Wright, himself a long-time Civil War re-enactor, has participated in hundreds of re-enactments around the nation, and has had the benefit of researching each regiment’s history with fellow re-enactors.

And it is at these events throughout the East and the South that Wright has been able to procure each uniform, often replete with head dress and accessories.

In his exhibit, Wright provides a written historical perspective along with each figure, from famous general to member of the rank-and-file, and he always has an interesting anecdote to share for each figure. To round out his collection, Wright has additional items on display, including regional and national Union and Confederate flags, physician’s tools and a variety of unusual items, like a slave-made banjo and a water bottle fashioned out of a cow’s leg. Not to mention the Howitzer cannon.

The Gallery of Civil War Soldiers has been shown at a variety of museums throughout Iowa and Illinois, as well as at Civil War re-enactments; Wright’s collection has also been featured on “Paula Sands Live” on KWQC-TV. His current exhibit is being sponsored by the Savanna Service Club and the Savanna Vision Network.

According to Lydia Root, member of the Savanna Historical Society/Civil War Museum, members of the Savanna Service Club have been particularly supportive of her group’s efforts, having recently voted to make a substantial financial donation to their organization as the Historical Society attempts to garner area support to establish a permanent location for Wright’s collection.

Use of the current structure housing the display was donated by Davide Tomei, and Historical Society members are hoping to raise sufficient funds to purchase that facility, situated along the banks of the Mississippi. But whatever property the group buys, they’re just anxious to establish a permanent home in Savanna for Wright’s collection, the only exhibit of its kind in the country, they said.

Root and the other members of the group feel such a museum would be a great community asset for generations to come, and hope local residents and Civil War buffs become involved in their efforts to establish the facility.

The Gallery of Civil War Soldiers will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1203 Main St., Savanna. There is no admission fee for the showing. For more information on Savanna’s Historical Society/Civil War Museum, contact Root at (815) 273-7296.

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