Elmira Civil War Prison Camp

06/18/2026

CHEMUNG COUNTY VETERANS!

All Chemung County veterans are eligible to apply for a scholarship to attend the Elmira Civil War Symposium, July 24-26. The Chemung County Veterans Affairs Department has pledged to sponsor up to 10 veterans' attendance.

This covers your attendance to all lectures & activities. It also includes Saturday & Sunday breakfasts, Saturday lunch, Saturday night Keynote dinner and the Friday night social. For additional details go to https://elmiracivilwar.org/events-symposium-2026/

Even if you can't attend, please share this with fellow Chemung County veterans.

Contact us at [email protected] to get your veterans registration code.

06/17/2026

REMINDER!

Our first History Under The Trees 2026 is tomorrow @ 6pm, 633 Winsor Ave, Elmira, NY.

Bring your lawn chairs & any snacks you like.

Topic is "Learning the Army Way". Through first person and newspaper accounts we'll explore how volunteers and the community adjusted to military life. Raw recruits learned what it was like to have a regimented day. Civilians & merchants experienced growing pains as the village population almost doubled overnight.
The site will be open for touring after the talk.

Raindate will be the following Thursday, 7/24 @ 6pm.

05/31/2026

The Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp and Elmira College are sponsoring a symposium Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26, 2026. Presentations will cover a range of topics related to Elmira’s Civil War history. To learn more and resister visit https://elmiracivilwar.org/events-symposium-2026/

05/25/2026

On site today, you have the opportunity to view an original sword that was presented by citizens of Elmira to Captain RRR Dumars, 161st NY Volunteer Infantry. The 161st NY left NY in Dec 1862 & was posted to Louisiana & participated in the Red River Campaign. Captain Dumars was taken ill & sent back to Elmira for convalescence. He was ultimately placed on detached duty at the prisoner of war camp. Stop by the site & learn how his son Jimmy contributed to an escape.

05/24/2026

The rain stopped, come on down & visit! We're open until 230pm. Our docents Kent & Carl will be more than happy to visit with you.

We'll also be open on Monday, 5/25/26, 1030-230pm

05/20/2026

OPENING WEEKEND MEMORIAL DAY HOURS

We will be open all 3 days to kick off our 2026 season.
1030-230
Sat 5/23/26
Sun 5/24/26
Mon 5/25/26

Attached is an example of a Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Day postcard. Our current Federal holiday has its roots in the Civil War.

Take some time out during the weekend to visit a veteran's gravesite or two & remember their service.

Hope to see you all soon!

05/13/2026

We need your help. Please go to www.elmiracivilwar.org and click the donate button. Thank you for all your help.

ELMIRA, NY (WENY) — Despite the partial collapse of the new Visitor Center at the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp on May 5th, members of the Friends of the Elmira

05/08/2026

As the media reported earlier this week, we had a bit of a setback in our efforts to build a new Visitor's Center for the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp. Part of the framework for the building collapsed due to the recent rain and winds. We are so grateful that no one was injured. And there's more good news! Our contractor tells us there will be no delay in our schedule, meaning our completion date of July 26th is still valid and plans for our Open House continue!

We are also very grateful for the many people who have reached out to express their concern and support for our efforts. It is heartening to know so many in our community believe in this important historical project.

We will have more updates coming shortly, so stay tuned. As always, your donations can be made easily through our website www.elmiracivilwar.org We thank you for all your support.

05/04/2026

When you visit our site, keep an eye out for our resident bald eagle.

05/01/2026

It is appropos that our first truss went up today -

Extract Elmira Daily Advertiser

From the Western Rendezvous.
ELMIRA, May 1, 1861
Gen. Van Valkenburg and Assistant Quartermaster-General Walker are busily at work day and night, preparing accommodations for volunteer companies ordered to rendezvous at this military depot.
Four companies from Auburn, one from Oswego, and one from Seneca Falls are quartered here. It is thought that by Monday or Tuesday the number of troops here will be increased to 3,000.
Comfortable accommodations have been fitted up for the 74th Regiment of Buffalo, which is expected on Friday.
The extensive barracks for additional troops will be commenced to-morrow, and finished in time for the Rochester and Syracuse Regiments, expected within a few days.
Three companies have been raised here, and accepted. They will be mustered into service this week.
Ten thousand dollars
have been raised for the families of volunteers.