Civil War School Days

Grades: 3rd through 12th

2026 Dates:
Tuesday, May 5
Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7
Friday, May 8
Rain or Shine

This award-winning educational event is specially designed to meet the curriculum standards for students in grades 5th through High School. Midway Village Museum’s campus makes this an exceptional field trip destination with more than 25 historic buildings and from 30 to 40 different living history sites offered each day. Groups will visit the sites that they choose.

The program is open to public, private or home schools from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. In 2018, more than 6,000 students participated in this program. Space is limited and advance registration and payment is required.

Civil War Drummer

Civil War Dancing

You can download Civil War School Days information packets, including suggested pre-, during- and post-lessons and activities here:

Civil War School Days General Information (undated, basic information about the event)
Civil War School Days Welcome Packet (year-specific information for educators which includes pre-visit instructions and guidelines)
Civil War Activity Packet (pre- and post- event activities, along with resources)

Examples of stations that students can visit:

President and Mary Todd Lincoln
Harriet Tubman
Recruitment
Camp Fuller Muster
17th Corps Field Operations
Undertaker, 17th Corps Field Operations
Civil War Music
Civil War Era Cricket
Civil War Sword Instruction
Frederick Douglass
Songs and Stories of the Underground Railroad
Battery G Union Artillery Unit/Cannon
Ellis Rifles Maneuvers
General Grant
Ink & Pen
The United States Colored Troops
Blacksmith
Telegraph
The Civil War Soldier & Technology
Sutler
War Correspondence
The Civil War Soldier & Technology
Dancing
Civil War Drumming

Cost is $10 per student; 1 complimentary chaperone for 10 paid students (ex. 100 students = 10 complimentary chaperones); additional adults $8.

Educational Standards

To view how Midway's programs meet state educational standards, download our 15-page Illinois State Standards overview in PDF format. To see how they meet National Social Studies Curriculum Standards 2, 3 & 4, download our 3-page Program Education Standards guide in PDF format.

Questions or need assistance? Please contact our Museum Educator, Teresa Streed, at 815-397-9112, ext. 106 or email her at teresa.streed@midwayvillage.com.