Written by Jon-Erik Gilot
In April, more than 200 Civil War and history enthusiasts from across the United States and Canada converged on the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie for our annual Civil War symposium.
With an all-star lineup of historians speaking on the Maryland Campaign and the Battle of Antietam, we expected another healthy crowd, perhaps exceeding our 2024 record-setting attendance of 110.
Instead, our numbers nearly doubled, thanks in part to marketing from our sponsor, Civil War Trails.
Consider that we often hear how interest in history is waning and that the historical reenacting community is graying, their depleted ranks left unfilled by younger generations. We here that visitation at historical parks and museums is flagging and that history is no longer taught in schools.
As a historian and author, I hear this and wonder whether anyone will read my books or attend my lectures.
And then I see more than 200 people from Maine, Washington and South Carolina, and right here from our corner of southwestern Pennsylvania turn out for a weekend of lectures and camaraderie, and I’m heartened.
This was on a weekend and during a month where other Civil War events — even other Antietam-themed events — were held, each of them seeing near-capacity crowds. History isn’t dead, but the ways we consume history are changing.
Our seventh annual Civil War symposium showcased Pittsburgh natives John Banks and Tom McMillan, sportswriters turned podcasters, who recorded a freewheeling live episode of their popular Antietam & Beyond Podcast.
Blogger and historian Harry Smeltzer shared his recent research on the Pennsylvania Reserves, while other social media personalities shared photos, interviews and recaps of the symposium to their legions of followers, near and far. We even had in attendance a 12-year-old Civil War enthusiast with his own YouTube channel on the Battle of Gettysburg.
For many years, the study of history has been viewed as dusty books consumed by your grandfather in an easy chair. Today, history is a passion that’s shared through Facebook groups, podcast communities, battlefield tours and lectures at breweries. It’s not an avocation to ‘go it alone,’ but an esprit de corps and fellowship that was nowhere more on display than at our Carnegie symposium.
If you missed our symposium this year, consider attending in 2026. Our 2025 event included lectures; an expansive book sale; a silent auction; and tastings from Arsenal Cider, Pittsburgh’s own Civil War-themed hard cider distillery.
We plan to bring more of this to Carnegie next year. More than that, the symposium also will include more than 200 of your new best friends, excited to learn and share about this most pivotal moment in our nation’s history.
Look for more information and tickets for our 2026 symposium in September. Details will be posted on our website, CarnegieCarnegie.org.