[Archived] Civil War Crimean Oven Lecture at Fort Ward Museum, Saturday, May 12

Saturday, May 12

On Saturday, May 12, Fort Ward Museum will sponsor a lecture on “The Story of Alexandria’s Civil War Crimean Ovens and Camp California.”  The lecture will be presented by Wally Owen, Assistant Director at Fort Ward Museum, at 1 p.m. in the Museum library.  Admission to the program is $10 per person.  Reservations are recommended due to limited seating.

The lecture will present new research highlighting the story behind Alexandria’s rare archaeological features that were discovered in 2003 and used to heat hospital tents, and their relationship to Camp California.  Camp California was home to 10,000 Civil War soldiers from December 1861 to March 1862.  Located in today’s West End of Alexandria, the Camp was an early war training ground for the Union Army of the Potomac.

Mr. Owen is a Civil War historian, curator and author who specializes in the Defenses of Washington and the Civil War history of Alexandria.   He is the co-author of the book, Mr. Lincoln’s Forts:  A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington. 

Fort Ward is the best preserved fortification in the Civil War Defenses of Washington, an extensive system of forts built to protect the Union capital during the Civil War.  The Museum offers changing exhibits, tours, lectures, and interpretive programs throughout the year.  Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road. 

For more information, please visit www.fortward.org, or call 703.746.4848.