Civil War Days at the Martha's Vineyard Museum

The located in Edgartown is offering a way for kids to get involved with the exhibit, "We Are Marching Along: Martha's Vineyard and the Civil War."

Children ages 5-12 are welcome to learn what Martha's Vineyard was like 150 years ago during on Wednesday, July 13 from 2-4 p.m. 

Participants will explore the museum's collection of newspaper accounts, letters, and diaries. Kids will discover how the Civil War affected life on the Island and see the war through the eyes of some of the men who fought, and some of their families at home.

"One of the things that we learned from the diaries and accounts of soldiers is that they really loved getting letters and packages," museum education director Nancy Cole said. 

Kids will be able to see items up close like a traveling ink pen set and actual letters that were written by soldiers.

"Sometimes the soldiers had to figure out how to make ink," Cole said. "And so they used berries."

On Wednesday, the kids will also have a chance to try to make ink themselves using different kinds of berries to see which work best. Then they will get to write a letter home from war.

"Soldiers also had to figure out different ways to communicate without words over distances so the kids will be coming up with ways to send signals," Cole said.

For those family members left behind, it was important for them to help anyway they could.

"The Island was so far away from the war," Cole said. "But there were a number of Islanders in both the Army and the Navy."

Many families made quilts and sent them to loved ones, and kids will be able to design a quilt square. They may even get to sample Necco Wafers, a candy that families often included in care packages. 

Civil War Days takes place on Wednesday, July 13 from 2-4 p.m. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Check-in takes place at the Pease House Galleries. Registration required. Please call 508-627-4441 ext. 110 for more information.