Impending War Lecture Series Feb-Mar 2011

Date: February 10, 2011
Contact: Nate Johnson, [phone]

As the National Park Service prepares for the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the staff and volunteers of Fort Sumter National Monument are presenting monthly talks at the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center on Sullivan’s Island. Entitled Impending War, this lecture series takes a deeper look at the antebellum history of the United States. Each talk gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about significant historical figures, their views of the issues, and the dramatic events that led to the first shots of the Civil War. Presentations are on the following Saturday afternoons:

February 19:  Park Rangers Donel Singleton and Nate Johnson will present the tenth lecture in this series, Slavery in the Movies: Myths and Misconceptions. By looking critically at one hundred years worth of video clips, from Birth of a Nation to Gods and Generals, this presentation will explore how Hollywood films have shaped the way viewers have thought about slavery. Parental warning: video clips contain violence and racial stereotypes. This program will begin at 2:00 p.m.

March 19:  Mary Hatcher and Jean Hutchinson will present the eleventh lecture in this series, From Secession to Sumter: A Southern Woman’s Perspective. Mary Boykin Chesnut was one of many women from South Carolina who voiced their opinions about states’ rights, the election of Abraham Lincoln, and the issue of secession. This presentation will examine the political views of these most ardent secessionists on the eve of civil war. This program will begin at 2:00 p.m.


Fort Moultrie is a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument and is located at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. The fort and visitor center are open daily from 9:00-5:00 except for New Year's, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. For more information, call [phone].