Materials
Beers Atlas Map of your Community
Beers Home Front Map instructions
Instructions
As a class explore the Beers Atlas map of your community. These maps were produced in 1869, just after the Civil War. Many of them list the major industries, community leaders, schools, churches, and other organizations that would have been active during the War. After sourcing the map and gathering evidence, “walk” through your community together and discuss what it would have been like to live there during the War.
Think about:
- How the soldiers would have gotten to a railroad station to depart or come home
- Where a funeral would have been held
- Where news would have been distributed and letters received
Find out how many soldiers from your community went off to fight. How many came back?
Read letters home or a poem to connect more deeply to the experience of those left behind.
