History is on the move in Virginia as the Civil War 150 HistoryMobile rolls into Chesapeake for the 2015 Jubilee! The exhibit, an initiative of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, will be located at Chesapeake City Park and will be open daily.

Admission to the HistoryMobile is free.

Hours of Operation:

5 to 11 p.m., Friday, May 15
10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, May 16
Noon to 7 p.m., Sunday, May 17

The HistoryMobile uses immersive spaces and interactive exhibits to draw together stories of the Civil War and emancipation from the viewpoints of those who experienced it across Virginia—young and old, enslaved and free, soldier and civilian.

Visitors will encounter history in ways they may have never experienced before. The HistoryMobile exhibit is divided into four sections: Battlefront, Homefront, Journey to Freedom, and Loss-Gain-Legacy.

From the bewildering sense of chaos experienced by soldiers, to the last letter written by a dying young soldier to his father, to a hushed conversation between a husband and wife considering the great risks and rewards of fleeing to freedom, the HistoryMobile presents the stories of real people in Virginia whose lives were shaped by the historic events of the 1860s. Visitors are asked to imagine: “What Would You Do?”

The Civil War 150 HistoryMobile crosses the Commonwealth visiting museums, schools, and special events. This tour began in July 2011, and since the exhibit has made over 120 stops and attracted visitors from every state. The HistoryMobile has also visited a number of other countries.

In addition to learning more about Virginia’s history, the HistoryMobile also provides visitors with information from Virginia Tourism about the many historic sites and destinations that they can explore today. Interactive maps and touch-screen kiosks located at the HistoryMobile help visitors to easily plan their next trip.

The HistoryMobile was named a 2013 Leadership in History Award of Merit winner by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history. The Award of Merit is one of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions of achievement in state and local history.

The Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission was created by the General Assembly to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Virginia. In addition to the HistoryMobile, the Commission sponsors programs that include a major gallery exhibition that will be installed at seven museums across Virginia, a statewide document digitization program, a highly-acclaimed annual Signature Conference series, an Emmy-nominated documentary, and much more.

More information on the Civil War 150 HistoryMobile and the initiatives of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission can be found at www.VirginiaCivilWar.org. For information on visiting Civil War sites throughout Virginia go to www.Virginia.org/CivilWar.

The Chesapeake Jubilee begins at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 with the Kiwanis Shrimp Feast. Hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, and from Noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. The Jubilee returns to Chesapeake City Park, 900 City Park Drive off Greenbrier Parkway.