THE 1st CIVIL WAR WEEKEND SEMINAR

"THE LOST CAUSE" AND CIVIL WAR MEMORY

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Fall 2010 (Specific Dates TBA)

 

"My only object is to transmit, if possible, the truth to posterity, and do justice to our brave Soldiers."  

(General Robert E. Lee in a post-war letter to Lt. General Jubal A. Early)

The Civil War left behind a devastated Confederate South that was humiliated by defeat but still believed in the nobility of its cause.  Many former Confederates sought ways to find something positive in their catastrophic failure to establish a new republic. “During the decades that followed [Appomattox]…they nurtured a public memory of the Confederacy that placed their wartime sacrifice and shattering defeat in the best possible light” (Gary W, Gallagher in The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History, p1). 

Their interpretation of the war, which came to be known as “The Lost Cause,” defined their purposes and justified their actions in 1861-1865.  Lost Cause warriors hoped to influence future generations, and their writings have had great sway in defining the Civil War in popular culture.  Led by U.Va. Professor Gary W. Gallagher, who has written widely on Confederate memory, this special weekend seminar will explore the Lost Cause in depth, including its origins, trajectory over 150 years, and continuing vitality today.

The new U.Va. Civil War Weekend Seminar is an opportunity to spend a few days on the Grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia exploring a specific Civil War topic with Professor Gallagher.  It will provide in a more intimate experience than our traditional battlefield programs, with plenty of time for discussion and debate. This weekend series will be offered every other year, when our lengthier Civil War battlefield programs are not offered. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore how the myth of the lost cause defined Southern antebellum society, secession, slavery, the causes of the war, and the reasons for defeat.
• Experience a day trip to Richmond to visit Hollywood Cemetery, the Museum of the Confederacy, Monument Avenue, and the Virginia Historical Society , with Professor Gallagher as your guide.
• Enjoy a reception and dinner in historic settings at the University of Virginia, the largest University in the South at the time of the Civil War and saved from destruction in 1865 by the pleas of faculty and students to General Custer.

PROGRAM LOCATION

The U.Va. Civil War Weekend Seminar takes place on the historic Grounds of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia is the product of the vision and determination of Thomas Jefferson.  The core of the University is the Jefferson-designed Academical Village, which reflects three of Jefferson’s strongest interests--education, architecture, and gardening.  The Academical Village, with its ranges, terraced lawn, student rooms, faculty pavilions, colonnade walkways and the famed Rotunda, has been proclaimed the most significant architectural achievement of the nation’s first 200 years.

 

Rich in history, architectural treasures, and natural beauty, Charlottesville is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 120 miles southwest of Washington, DC, and 70 miles west of Richmond.  Charlottesville (airport code CHO) has extensive air service provided by US Airways, United, Delta, and Northwest.  The Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport website offers schedules and booking for flights, hotels, and rental cars.  Ground transportation is provided by Amtrak and Greyhound. 

 

Before you arrive, you will be sent useful program materials and information about the University of Virginia and Charlottesville to help guide you here and prepare you for the seminar.

 

For more information on Charlottesville and Albemarle County, visit the Charlottesville and Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The U.Va. Civil War Weekend Seminar is for those who value investigating not only the events, but also the hearts and minds behind the Civil War. It is suited for those who have great knowledge of the Civil War as well as those wanting to gain more.  Teachers, students, friends, multigenerational family pairings….this is an experience for anyone who seeks out unique travel and learning opportunities that provide intellectual stimulation in a warm, congenial, and truly beautiful environment.

 

Part of an educational travel tradition with a long history of exceptional participant satisfaction, this seminar offers unsurpassed value, rich content, and memorable experiences.

Please e-mail us if you would like to be added to our inquiry list and be among the first to receive the most up to date information on this program.