The Bishop Hill Heritage Association is hosting the 2023 Civil War Days on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, 2023, to honor their own Company D, IL 57th Volunteer Infantry. There will be Union and Confederate encampments in the Village Park all day, with programs occurring throughout the day. The civilian encampment and sutler area, which includes a tin-type photographer and an old-fashioned sarsaparilla vendor, will be located by the Steeple Building Museum. All programs are free and open to the public, due to the generous support of our sponsors: Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, Geneseo Foundation, and Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency. Some of the programs include an artillery demonstration, a speech by General U.S. Grant, vintage baseball games, Civil War song concerts, a Civil War era Ball, and of course, battles. Special Company D exhibit will be on display at the Steeple Building Museum. For more details, go to www.bishophillheritage.org , call 309 927-3899, or email [email protected].
Saturday May 6th Program Schedule
Soldier Encampment all day in the village park; Sutlers and Civilian Encampment by Steeple Building Museum
Vintage baseball games at ball park all day
9:45 AM: Parade by troops from Coopers’ Field, followed by unit picture in front of the Steeple Building Museum
10 AM: Speech by General U.S. Grant (portrayed by Dan Haughey) at Village Park Gazebo
10 AM and 1 PM: Civil War presentation by Dan Dauw at Henry County Museum
11:30 AM: Concert by Wes Wells
12 PM: Female Civil War Spies program by Sheryl Hinman in Steeple Building Museum
1 PM: Concert by 33rd band at Village Park Gazebo
2 PM: Artillery Demonstration at Coopers’ Field
3 PM: Battle at Coopers’ Field, followed by Medical Demonstration at Village Park
7-9 PM: Civil War Ball in front of Steeple Building; back up location Colony School
Sunday May 7th Program Schedule
Soldier Encampment all day in the village park; Sutlers and Civilian Encampment by Steeple Building Museum
10 AM: 1860’s Food Tasting at Dairy Building (need to preregister by calling 309 927-3899 or email [email protected] )
11 AM: Concert by Hammer and Pick at Village Park Gazebo
12 PM: Abraham Lincoln program by Michael Zecher at Steeple Building Museum
1 PM: Artillery Demonstration at Coopers’ Field
2 PM: Battle at Coopers’ Field followed by Medical Demonstration at Village Park
Supporters of the 2023 Bishop Hill Civil War Days
Thank you to all the reenactors and volunteers, too numerous to list, who participated this year. Without all your help and support, Bishop Hill Civil War Days would not have been possible! Also, thank you to the following organizations, individuals, and foundations for sponsoring or assisting with programs today: Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation; Bishop Hill State Historic Site; Galesburg Community Foundation; Galva FFA; Geneseo Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency; Jim and Cheri Campbell; Neal and Diana Cooper; and Alex Timmerman. Special Thanks to Regional Media for being our Media Sponsor.
