The museum is being largely gutted during the work (NPS photo) |
The federal park in southern Tennessee recently announced the closing of the visitor center for several months. The film “Shiloh: Fiery Trial” is still being shown in the auditorium. Restrooms are available nearby.
The museum is long overdue for the overhaul: The exhibits are about 35 years old.
Park ranger
Chris Mekow tells the Civil War Picket in an email that among new items to be
displayed is the frock coat of Col. Francis Eugene Whitfield, commander of the
9th Mississippi Infantry.
Park officials remove artifacts, exhibits from the walls, floor (NPS photo) |
The coat came from a private collection with help from grants and donations through the Friends of Shiloh National Battlefield Park. It was donated to the park several years ago.
F.E. Whitfield |
Whitfield, wounded in 1864 at Resaca in Georgia, survived the war and died in 1885.
The Civil War in North Mississippi Facebook page says the double-breasted coat appears to be
made of imported gray wool and was finely tailored, with French blue facings, a
gold sleeve braid and a three-button cuff.
In September
2017, noted Civil War collector Rafael Eledge donated uniform trousers
Whitfield wore after the battle to the park (photo below).
The Picket has asked Mekow for more details on the nature of story-based items and interpretation that will greet visitors after the museum overhaul.
“As for other new exhibits, you will just have to wait,” he wrote previously.
Col. Whitfield's pants before conservation (NPS) |
Officials say updates will be provided on the park's website and Facebook page.
Visitor center exterior and dismantled exhibits (NPS) |
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