To Preserve the Nation

Pennsylvania Commemorates 150th Anniversary of Loyal War Governors' Conference 
Altoona, Pennsylvania - September 27-30, 2012

The War Governors' Conference took place in the immediate aftermath of Lincoln's preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.  Spearheaded by Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin, the Altoona, Pennsylvania conference was meant to aid Lincoln with political support at a time when he desperately needed it.  The thirteen state executives present offered firm support in the name of emancipation and also called for 100,000 supplementary troops to help quell the rebellion.  The governors pledged that their states would raise the appropriate quota of troops to serve on the front lines.  The Loyal War Governors' Conference could be considered one of the great political events of the Civil War era.  In the end, the governors stated that the conference and the Emancipation Proclamation gave "new life, new vigor, and new hopes to the hearts of the people" with a renewed sense of "devotion to the national cause."

Come to Blair County for a four day commemoration featuring free lectures, films, new exhibits, interactive displays, reenactments, and the Pennsylvania Civil War Roadshow.  Call 814-942-3916 for more info.  Some events include To Preserve the Nation: Penn State Altoona’s Seminar Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Loyal War Governors’ Conference featuring historians Jeffry Wert, Robert Sandow, Timothy Orr, Jared Frederick, and Aaron Sheehan-Dean.  This seminar will begin at 12 p.m. in room 101 Misciagna Building on Thursday September 27 on the Penn State Altoona Campus.  That evening, a special introduction and showing of the 1989 classic film Glory will be debuted at Penn State Altoona's Devorris Downtown Center.  A number of veterans of the famed 54th Massachusetts depicted in the film were residents of Blair County.

On Friday September 28 at 10 a.m., commemorations begin with a ceremony at the Baker Mansion Museum with speeches, formal remarks, and proclamations by representatives and dignitaries including Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis and Representative Jerry Stern.  Local school students will be present for this and the opening of the Pennsylvania Civil War Roadshow at DelGrosso's Amusement Park at noon in conjunction with the annual HarvestFest.

On Saturday and Sunday September 29-30, join local historians, volunteers, teachers, and reenactors for a multitude of special events at DelGrosso's Amusement Park including lectures, displays, special sales items, concerts, reenactments, and the Pennsylvania Civil War Roadshow--a state-of-the-art traveling museum in a triple-wide trailer.  All of these events are free and open to the public!  Please call 814-942-3916 or visit blaircivilwar.blogspot.com for more information and complete schedules on this unique commemoration for a long-overlooked historic milestone.