Community Program: Seattle’s Civil War History – A Fitting Prelude

This presentation tells the story of Washington State’s delegation to the 1913 Gettysburg reunion. Our local Seattle and King County history is rich with  unique and individual direct connections with the Battle of Gettysburg. Washington State provided the largest delegation of any western state to the 50th anniversary commemoration of the battle. This reunion of the Blue and
Gray was the largest event of its kind ever held and Washington was well represented. This presentation discusses the state’s efforts to provide for every veteran of Gettysburg that resided in Washington to return to the battlefield, the lengthy cross-country train journey, and how the veterans of the battlefield felt before, during and after the reunion. Many unique accounts of the reunion and the Battle of Gettysburg itself are featured.

Richard Heisler is the founder of Civil War Seattle and Seattle History Tours. A resident of the Seattle area for more than 3 decades and a lifelong student of the Civil War era, Richard’s public history work aims to bring light to the extensive and influential historical connections of our region’s communities to the Civil War. and other local history. Richard has presented and led tour programs for many area historical and private organizations, such as the Bothell Historical Society, the Fall City Historical Society, Pacific Northwest Historians Guild, Woodinville Heritage Society. King County Public Library, Puget Sound Civil War Roundtable, Adams County Historical Society Gettysburg PA, Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center Gettysburg PA and many others. Richard is a contributing writer for Emerging Civil War, the Western Theater in the Civil War. Civil War Seattle has been featured widely in local media, including the Seattle Times, KIRO Radio, KOMO TV, Pacific NW magazine and more.