civil war museum

Fun for the kids, they liked it. Lots to see! Really a great hidden museum! Fun for teens, great location.

The museum is unique in that you don't see Civil War Museum very often. Well done for the area. The museum is next to the Kenosha Public Museum as well and the law enforcement memorial is between them.

Came to Kenosha for a brief one night visit and heard about the museum so I decided to visit with my brother. Easy to get to and there is plenty of parking. Being interested in the Civil War and going to visit Gettysburg for the first time in May anything helped. The fiery trial exhibit was the highlight going from the 1850s through the war itself and the aftermath. There were plenty of artifacts including weapons as big as cannons,battle flags, and other equiment and the life size figures were so lifelike some may think they are real. The main focus was the soldiers involved from the midwest region. The 360 degree film Seeing the Elephant was superb and the veterans monument payed tribute to all wars. The campfire in the veterans exhibit with the lifesize soldiers around it made it look like they were discussing their own war experiences. Ver neat!! A must visit for history buffs and anyone travelling through the area!!

Although the interactive Fiery Trial and the 360 movie, Seeing the Elephant are exceptional, I found the Veterans Memorial Exhibit inspirational. The veterans' artifacts from each war was educational, but the Solidarity of Soldiers portion of the exhibit took my breath away. Life size soldiers from all the wars were around a campfire, as if it was the end of the day involved in seemingly intimate conversations, was eerie. Being able to walk among group soldiers made me feel was part of the part of the camaraderie of the soldier across time. I highly recommend this free exhibit. Work to enhance veteran artifacts, I am sure, is an ongoing process.

It's in a good location, and I enjoyed the experience. Not much else to say. I have a condo in the area, so it's convenient for me. If you get the chance, and are out of town, this is well worth an hour or two of your time.

PROS: plenty of free parking; some free exhibits but the main exhibit has a fee; right beside the Kenosha Public Museum and the History Museum and Lighthouse from across the dock; the Kenosha tram has a stop right outside of the building. CONS: may not be too interesting for some people and children; there are more interesting museums within a 5 minute drive ; a very quick stop if you have time.

If you're looking for somewhere to visit in Kenosha, and you're interested in history - especially the Civil War that torn our country apart, then look no further - Kenosha Civil War Museum is the choice. Wonderful collection with lots of informative display and videos, with professional team of staffs that is ready to help. Very interactive, even for families with children.

Only been there once, but MUST go back and see the things I had to go by too fast. Big, imaginative displays, videos, wonderful memorabilia and the feeling you were right there with the soldiers and the locals involved. A real must for any visitor (or resident) of Kenosha, WI!

Yes, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Why? Because the focus is on how the War Between the States affected the Upper Midwest, which sent 750,000 men to serve in the army but, perhaps more importantly, how the Upper Midwest also provided much of the food and raw materials necessary to sustain the Union Army.Believe it or not, this is the third largest Civil War museum in the country. It focuses on the impact the war had "back home," and special exhibits pay tribute to lingering affects of the war. (A Ku Klux Klan hood is the exhibit where the display glass gets the most fingerprints, according to the museum director.)There are two major permanent exhibits: The Fiery Trial, and Seeing the Elephant.The Fiery Trial is an exhibit in the round, almost, except that you can't just go around in a circle -- there are too many side trips to make, too many things to see. This exhibit displays Civil War artifacts and other things that were important to the area."Seeing the Elephant" was the term used by those who went off to the war after they had been in battle. It's also the title of this most unusual exhibit: a ten-minute, 360º film. The film focuses on the lives of three men as they go off to war. The brief skirmish is the climax of the film, and it is awesome. There is enough footage in the film to make a conventional three-hour movie. This alone makes a trip to this museum well worth it.There is also the excellent, 600-piece Frank A. Palumbo collection, including 36 rare lithographs, photos, paintings, arms, a travel trunk collection, uniforms, and a doctor’s amputation kit. This collection is on permanent loan from Carthage College in Kenosha.Bear in mind that this is not a battle scene museum; this is not Gettysburg. But Gettysburg, and Antietam, and Shiloh, and other battles were fought by men who came from somewhere -- and that somewhere included Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.And the admission prices are modest.Come see this museum. You won't be disappointed.

This museum is spectacular! It's a lot of amazing exhibits and information. It's great for the whole family, interactive exhibits and scenes to really explain how life was during the civil war

Set up mostly on one floor,with just travelling exhibits upstairs; this is a rather new building up east on Lake Michegan..a nice movie in the round opens up the time well spent there...most all displays are simple and well done; a few areas lacked for adequate lighting...there is a nice gift shop on the main level..a small admission cost...plan on at least 2 hours here.

The price is right and if you are looking for a little bit of history the Civil war museum is a good deal.

OK for school aged children. Has some interesting artifacts, but have visited actual Civil War battle sites with museums where it was much more interesting.

This was an awesome museum. We had just a short visit but saw the 360* movie and walked through the first floor. Absolutely wonderful. A must see in Kenosha WI.

My son is a Civil War enthusiast after visiting various battle grounds on the East Coast last Summer 2014 and a trip down South this Summer 3013 with a group from Marquette University High School, headed by Chris Lese. Chris Lese, is a MUHS teacher and a Civil War expert, He was very influential with development of the Museum. We purchased our tickets at the ticket/gift counter ($9 adult and kids under age 15 are Free). Entering the Museum, we were greeted by an older gentlemen, dressed in period clothes, to give us an overview of the Museum. He struck us as a bit droll or he had a dry sense of humor. Turns out he was was a bit hearing impaired and was caught off guard when he was asked questions "off the script". Aside of his earnest, yet lacking, overview we entered the Museum enthusiastically. Our timing was perfect--as it was just minutes before the start of the 360-Degree film (a must see). We were directed into the standing only round theater--featuring the film "Seeing the Elephant". The film started with young boys going off to war, from all walks of life. The boys so very young and innocent; the war turning them into men and brave soldiers. The film showing the true effects of the war and how horrific it actually was. North against South and basically men against men. The file showed the soldiers being shot at, wounded, maimed and killed. Unbelievable how the War affected their lives in so many way, especially after the War. The film accurately portray the soldiers and the War. The Museum is divided into a different sections, such as the families of the soldiers, different Wars' uniforms, medical treatment or lack thereof, life during and after the war, their transportation--trains, ships, their communication, the Navy's involvement,the Underground Railroad, etc. Through out the Museum there are mannequins that talk giving accounts specific to their exhibit. Lots of reading exhibits. There are some "hands on" exhibits. Really a lot of information to be absorbed. The Museum building is "state of the art" with clean lines and easy access to all the exhibits. We all enjoyed the Museum. It was very well thought out and a great representation of how the Midwest affected the Civil War.