The Civil War destroyed millions of acres of farmland, forests, and wilderness, which endured untold devastation from four years of the fiercest armed combat in the history of the North American continent. For many veterans of the conflict, that lived experience inspired a newfound appreciation for protection of the country’s biological and ecological landscape, as preservationists of battlefields, designers of parks and green spaces, and professionals in the fields of forestry and conservation—now no longer on the frontlines of warfare, but of a new national effort to create and expand public lands.

Join Codie Eash for this special Arbor Day presentation, as he explores how veterans’ experiences shaped their attention to environmental concerns, forever changing the natural landscape across the postwar United States.

- FREE with Museum Admission -

Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center