About Us
The Organization:
Civil War Explorer Post 1863 is an organization for males and females between the ages of 14 and 20 with an interest in the Civil War. The Post is affiliated with the Boy Scouts and is led by four officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) elected by the membership. Adult advisors also play key roles in running the organization. The Post is devoted to studying both the military and civilian aspects of the war.
The Meetings:
Meetings are held (with some exceptions) on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in the Lancaster County Historical Society. The meetings begin at 7:00 PM and usually end around 8:30 PM. Most meetings consist of a short business discussion/information session followed by a presentation or movie. Prospective members are welcome to attend any meeting. The following is a list of some speakers who presented to the Post in 2004.
Ron Young on Lancaster Civil War Sites
Dick Simpson on the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee
Tom and Janice Grove on Collecting Civil War Images
Jim and Eileen Bish on Clothing for Civil War Reenactors
A debate among local historians on James Buchanan's Presidency
Meetings of previous years have featured other prominent and diverse speakers such as Civil War artist Brad Schmehl, Gettysburg historian Tim Smith, and Lancaster Mayor (and artillery collector) Charlie Smithgall.
The Activities:
The Explorer Post also participates in a variety of activities such as service projects, presentations, camping trips, day trips, reenactments, and Civil War balls. The Post adopted a monument at Gettysburg to maintain in addition to a project cleaning the veterans' plot at the Lancaster Cemetery. Members of the post also serve through Civil War presentations to Boy Scouts troops and other community groups. A great example of the creative abilities of Post members is the Victorian Tableau presented by the Explorer Post at many reenactments. Camping trips and day trips to destinations such as Gettysburg, the Shenandoah Valley, the Richmond/Petersburg area, and Harper's Ferry are always popular. Many members of the post are heavily involved in reenacting, and the Explorers Post assists new members who would like to join the hobby. Although the majority of members reenact, being a reenactor is not a requirement. Finally, the Explorers participate in Civil War dances (again, not a requirement) and even host a spectacular Christmas Ball in Marietta each year.
Finances:
The Explorer Post maintains its own treasury supported by fundraisers, donations, and yearly dues of eight dollars per person. The Lancaster County Historical Society is also to be thanked for its kind support of the Post.