Rep. Patty Kim (D-103), former state senator John Gordner and others affiliated with the project cut the ribbon on the Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center.
For the first time, the community can learn about the Commonwealth’s historic flags in an interactive exhibit.
On Wednesday, officials cut the ribbon on the Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center in Harrisburg.
“This education center provides an immersive experience to our guests,” said Rep. Patty Kim (D-103), chair of the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee. “We are very excited for you to see this.”
The preservation committee, formed in 1981, has worked to preserve about 403 Civil War and Spanish-American War flags that are in the state’s possession and spearheaded the project to create the education center.
The new center, located in a Department of General Services Building at 2221 Forster St., now not only houses the flags, but allows visitors to view them and learn about their history through an exhibit.
Inside the education center
Formerly, the flag collection was stored at a location on Market and N. 10th streets, from 1985 to 2020, when the flags were relocated. Since then, the committee has worked to create the exhibit, which includes interactive touch screens with flag information, as well as additional artifacts like war equipment, uniforms and soldiers’ personal items.
According to Kim, the collection is one of the largest state-issued collections of flags in the nation.
“These flags were incredibly important tools of war. Amidst the confusion of battle, they provided direction and inspiration for soldiers,” said Andrea Lowery, executive director of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission. “And these flags here illustrate the immeasurable sacrifices made by hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.”
A flag on display in the education center
The education center will hold an open house for the public from Oct. 4-6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., each day. The center will resume normal tours on Oct. 10, by appointment only.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flag Education Center, visit the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee’s website.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
