Philadelphia is known for its history. Visitors and residents flock to Old City to admire Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell; to read notable names engraved on tombstones; and to tour the homes of important figures such as Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin. But on this side of town, better known for its fine dining and upscale shopping, one of Philadelphia’s most comprehensive collections of historic artifacts remains largely unrecognized. Tucked away on a charming tree-lined lane, the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia, located at 1804 Pine Street, is a little-known institution that is dedicated to preserving and demonstrating the explosive power of American history.

Situated in a beautiful brick row home, the museum offers visitors the chance to interact with its extensive collection of artifacts, artwork, and archival material in an intimate setting. The museum was founded in 1888 by The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, or MOLLUS, and moved to its location on Pine Street in 1922. The building itself is inviting, with hardwood floors, ornate carpeting, and high ceilings lined with decorative molding. Antique furniture and three flights of creaky, well-worn stairs complement its charm and add a comfortable, homey feel to the entire museum. The building is also rumored to be haunted by a company of friendly, card-playing ghosts and other sprightly spooks who add to the museum’s character.

Most of the materials within the museum come primarily from donations from MOLLUS members and their families. Many of the artifacts are from local Union soldiers, relating directly to the role that Philadelphia played in the Civil War. The collection displays several items that you would expect to find in a war museum including uniforms, weapons, and flags. This institution, however, offers a wide variety of unique items such as the decorative, paisley patterned smoking jacket of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis. The jacket was captured from Davis’s baggage by Union soldiers and is now preserved under a glass case in the Confederate Room. Although the collection contains only a small amount of material relating to the Confederacy, Davis’s jacket is one of the museum’s most valuable possessions. Another remarkable attraction is the head of Old Baldy, the beloved war horse of Philadelphia General George G. Meade. Old Baldy’s head was stuffed and mounted on a commemorative plaque after the horse died in 1882, and can now be admired in the museum’s room dedicated to General Meade. Some other items of note in the museum’s collection include the death mask of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, and an original playbill from Our American Cousin, the play Lincoln attended on the night of his assassination.

With its significant assemblage of material, the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum is the oldest chartered Civil War institution in the United States, and yet it remains virtually unrecognized as one of Philadelphia’s prime historic sites. “People tell us they’ve lived in this area all their lives and never knew we were here,” said Andrew Coldren, Curatorial Associate of the museum. Coldren and his associates believe that the collection itself is “priceless,” and want the public to be aware of its significance. “The men who saved these things saved them for a reason: because they wanted people to see them,” said Coldren. “We want people to know, and understand and feel the power of these items.”

Although the items themselves are imperative parts of the museum, the institution acts as much more than a mere collection of artifacts. The dedicated personnel breathe life into the collection through the use of “living history” programs. These programs include a story hour that is held every second Saturday of the month at 11:00 AM. During this hour, staff members and actors dress up and act out the stories of various historical figures, including “appearances” by Harriet Tubman, Lucretia Mott, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglas. The museum staff strives to make the material they present as authentic as possible, and use only real words from documented material. Millicent Sparks, Education and Community Liaison, believes that “living history” is a way to make a direct impact on people, especially young people. “We get a lot of appreciation from audiences when we do living history,” said Sparks. “Students seem to understand more; they get connected more; and they become more interested in the material we are presenting.” The museum also uses “living history” to present multiple lecture series relating to the Civil War and Underground Railroad, inviting topical experts to speak and answer questions. The museum recently held a series at the Union League in Philadelphia regarding the role of women during the war, and they hope to orchestrate a presentation on Civil War music this summer. Other plans for the summer include an afternoon tea book club that will focus on literature of the time period, and also educational summer camps for children.

“Living history” programming is a method the museum also employs to communicate the story of slavery and how it influenced the Civil War. Due to the secretive nature of the Underground Railroad, the museum only contains a few concrete artifacts and documents from slaves and participants in the Abolitionist movement. However, Coldren believes understanding the history of slavery is a vital component of understanding the larger picture. “We believe that the story of slavery, the story of the Underground Railroad, and the story of the Abolition effort lead directly into talking about the war,” he said. Despite many similar institutions’ tendencies to curb the discussion of slavery because of its controversial nature, the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia wants to confront the issue head on in hopes that the information will benefit diversity awareness in today’s society. “As a country, we’ve always been diverse, but we’ve always overcome disagreement,” said Coldren. “The Civil War is the worst it got in terms of disagreement, and maybe understanding that will help people understand that it isn’t so bad now.”

Future plans for the museum include a new address in the Historic District, with a larger venue to house their expanding collection. “We’re really trying to create a whole new museum,” said Beth Becker, Deputy Director. The staff hopes that as they move their materials, they will also have the chance to restore and clean many artifacts, a process that takes a large amount of time and money. The museum is funded solely on community donations and government grants, and will be conducting a large fund-raising effort for the next couple of years. “One of the problems we face is that this is a multi-million dollar collection that we do not, at this point, have the funds to properly conserve and care for,” said Coldren. “We need the help of the community, the state, and the government to continue our efforts.”

The museum will remain at its current Rittenhouse location for at least another two years and will then pack up to become “a museum without walls” while the new exhibits are assembled. During that time, they hope to continue showcasing “living history” events and educating the public in order to keep their presence alive within the community. Before they relocate, the museum staff encourages people to visit their quaint location on Pine Street and experience what the collection has to offer. “I think it’s important that people see the collection here, in this context, in this house where it’s been since 1922,” said Coldren. “There’s an intimacy here that you’re not going to get in any other museum setting."

The museum is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. To find out more information, visit their Web site at www.cwurmuseum.org. The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia is an institution dedicated to the exploration and preservation of local history and heritage, as well as national identity and diversity, making it the Rittenhouse community’s hidden historic gem.