Episode 1: The Union

Now playing
1h
Oct 27, 2013

We all know who won the Civil War, but there were many moments when victory was anything but certain. Join Ashley Judd, great-great-great granddaughter of two Union soldiers, as she takes us back 150 years for an intimate look at the North's battles and struggles during those bloody four years. From iconic artifacts like Old Glory to small objects like field medical kits and soldiers' photos, discover the stunning backstories of seemingly ordinary pieces from our past.

Episode 2: The Confederacy

1h
Nov 3, 2013

Millions of dollars worth of Confederate currency. Sheet music filled with boasts of triumph. J.E.B. Stuart's handgun. Smithsonian curators have collected thousands of objects from the Civil War, which collectively offer a rich understanding of the South's viewpoint during this pivotal era in American history. Join country music singer Trace Adkins, whose ancestor fought for the South, as he follows the rise and fall of the Confederacy, from the men who fought to define freedom on their own terms to those who were caught in the wake of war.

Episode 3: Fight For Freedom

1h
Nov 10, 2013

A century and a half ago, North battled South in a conflict that would kill more Americans than any other war. The outcome would change our nation forever, and no one had more to gain, or to lose, than enslaved Americans. Join actor Dennis Haysbert as he looks at their struggles through the objects in the Smithsonian's collection. From a bloodstained map to the inkwell Lincoln used to write the Emancipation Proclamation, these artifacts transport us to a brutal and complicated time when our country tore itself apart.