An Iowa State Historical Society exhibit will be shown in Avoca, tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. The “History on the Move” traveling Civil War exhibit will be open for viewing in the parking lot of the Farmall-Land USA Museum just south of Interstate 80, near the Embers Restaurant. The New Town Avoca Historical Society says the group, along with the Town and Country Junior Federated organization in Avoca, are sponsoring the exhibit. 

Rich Price, member of the New Town Avoca group says all ages are welcome to tour the free exhibit, which is designed to bring national and local history with regard to the war, to life. Price says a local landmark set the stage for volunteers to enlist in the fight. A one-room school on the east edge of Avoca, which was moved from its original location south of town at the New Town settlement, is where local residents signed up for the war before they walked to the Council Bluffs rail head to begin their enlistment. The Civil War exhibit, Price says will come to Avoca in a trailer, which has been touring the state since the 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War took place, last year. Actual Civil War memorabilia…including personal stories of Iowa soldiers, historical documents, maps and artifacts will be on display. And, a computer program will allow visitors to research the Civil War, and look up ancestors who may have fought in the conflict. Price says the local historical society will have many items on display, as well, including original cannonballs, uniforms, and letters from soldiers, along with cemetery records of the 70 veterans from Avoca who served in the war. The group is also working with the local school to learn about the role the community played during the war. 

The exhibit will be open from 10-a.m. to 8-p.m. both Thursday and Friday. In celebration of the event, Jerry and Joyce Mez, owners of the Farmall-Land Museum, are offering half-price admission to their museum.