Exhibitions

More Perfect Union: The American Civil War Era

More Perfect Union offers a deeper, more inclusive, and truth-centered understanding of America’s Civil War. It will challenge myths, confront difficult truths, and offer visitors an invitation to not just look back, but to reflect on how history informs the present and future.

An Inside Look

The Making of "More Perfect Union"

Collection Highlights

This regimental standard belonged to Philadelphia’s 127th Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry, and it’s one of the premier artifacts that will be displayed in More Perfect Union: America’s Civil War Era.

Learn more about Atlanta History Center’s U.S. Colored Troops collection of Civil War-related items. 

U.S. Army post flag that flew over the freedmen’s or “contraband” camp at Craney Island, Virginia (Hampton Roads/ Ft. Monroe) 1862-1863. From Dr. Orlando Brown, physician in charge of the camp, later ran the VA Department of the Freedman’s Bureau.

New Testament, dated 1824, belonged to L.L. Parker, Md. Artillery. Interior page at left has a handrawn image of a cannon ball shooting a projectile to the left with words “Death / To / Davis”. Underneath in cursive: “God Save / Our Nation!” The interior right page reads, “L.L. Parker / 1st Md. Lt. Artillery / U.S. Vols”.

Small gold locket with hand-tinted image of unknown enlisted USCT artilleryman wearing forage cap with crossed cannons and smoking a cigar.

View of the destroyed Georgia Railroad roundhouse after the Battle of Atlanta, looking northwest along the railroad tracks from the southwest corner of what is now Piedmont Road to the Broad Street bridge in Atlanta, Georgia. Photographed by George N Barnard.

“AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER” anti-slavery and abolitionist copper coin.  Backside of coin shows two clasped hands encircled with words, “MAY SLAVERY & OPPRESSION CEASE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.” Minted 1796-97 in Birmingham, first version of this famous logo depicted on a coin; many British and American copies followed.

Linen banner Fremont campaign, 1856. White with red, gold, black paint. Reverse: “A Freedom Of Speech,/A Freedom Of Thought,/A Unity, Earth Cannot Sever,/A Freedom Of Soil/By Blood Dearly Bought,/American Freedom Forever.”

Related Content

In the Press

  • August 10, 2026

    The Civil War Picket

    At 99, Charles J. Turner Jr. has dug up Georgia battle relics nearly his whole life. That collection and an impressive array of purchases are finding new life at the Atlanta History Center’s Civil War exhibits

  • July 28, 2026

    New York Times

    An Atlanta Museum’s New Look at the Civil War Goes Beyond Relics

  • July 12, 2026

    CBS News

    New Atlanta History Center exhibit uses rare Civil War artifacts to connect the city’s past to its present

  • July 10, 2026

    97.1 The River

    New Civil War exhibit opens at Atlanta History Center

  • July 10, 2026

    11Alive

    Atlanta History Center unveils bold new Civil War exhibit

  • July 10, 2026

    The Civil War Picket

    10-MUST SEES: Atlanta History Center senior military historian and curator Gordon Jones says these artifacts in new ‘More Perfect Union’ exhibit will speak to you

  • July 9, 2026

    Buckhead.com

    More Perfect Union: Inside the Atlanta History Center’s Ambitious Civil War Exhibit

  • July 8, 2026

    Saporta Report

    Atlanta History Center opens ‘More Perfect Union: The American Civil War Era,’ its most ambitious exhibit so far

  • July 8, 2026

    WSB-TV

    Atlanta History Center unveils new Civil War-era exhibition
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