Programs and Projects

The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies offers many programs to Virginia Tech students and alumni, as well as the general public. Click on the links below to learn more.

Dr. Paul Quigley speaking to a classroom of fourth-grade students

The Traveling Trunk of Civil War History brings history into fourth-grade classrooms in the New River Valley. The program will be offered again in Spring 2025. Contact Program Coordinator Rachel Stanley at rcstanley@vt.edu to set up a visit to your school.

Speaker presenting to several dozen people at the 2024 Civil War Weekend.

The Civil War Weekend takes place each March on the campus of Virginia Tech, attracting alumni and many others. Leading historians share their latest research on a wide range of Civil War topics.

A group of Spring Campaign attendees posing in front of a Civil War monument in 2017

The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies organizes field trips to explore Civil War history where it happened. Each year our Spring Campaign visits battlefields, museums, and other sites.

AI image shows an enslaved person at Pamplin Historical Park, along side a modern-day person holding a tablet. .

Our Experiencing Civil War History Through Augmented Reality project is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, in partnership with the Pamplin Historical Park.

view of cover of Civil War Driving Tour brochure with the text stating Civil War Driving Tour

The Civil War Driving Tour of Southwest Virginia brings the war in our region to life through interactive text, images, and maps.

Marquee of the Lyric Theater in Blacksburg, VA

The Civil War Film Series screens the best Civil War movies, old and new, at Blacksburg’s Lyric Theatre. Visiting experts discuss the movies’ historical significance with the audience.

Image of an unknown Civil War soldier with grid lines across his face to aid in facial recognition

The VCCWS is proud to support Civil War Photo Sleuth, using crowdsourcing and facial recognition technologies to identify Civil War soldiers, sailors, and civilians.

Screen shot from the film "Glory" with the image of several actors portraying Civil War soldiers in the film.

The Civil War Film History Project discusses some of the most well-known films on the Civil War, from “The Birth of a Nation” to more modern films, like “12 Years a Slave.”

Black and white drawing of an African-American man in the Civil War era.

Student Projects: Virginia Tech students have researched, designed and built extraordinary projects focused on the Civil War in recent years. Click HERE to see some of their work.