The Murfreesboro Post, November 11, 2012
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County have announced the expansion of its permanent exhibition entitled “The Time that Changed Everything.”
Four new panels take an in-depth look at the home front and Civil War memory in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.
The home front panels illustrate the upheaval of the war and its effects on the civilian population. By 1865, the New York Times described Murfreesboro as “a terribly war-scratched place.” The panels about memory shed light on the early work of veterans and women’s groups to honor the dead. The exhibition also depicts activities related to both the Centennial of the war and the current Sesquicentennial.
Several new artifacts are on display, including a doctor’s chair, a saddle, and memorabilia from the centennial. In addition, MTSU’s Center for Popular Music has loaned an illustrated broadside of the song “When This Cruel War is Over.”
The expansion of the exhibition has been a collaborative effort of staff and students from MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation. The Heritage Center serves as a learning lab for students interested in pursuing careers at museums and historic sites.
The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is located at 225 W. College St. in Murfreesboro.