Museum Collections

Copper-plated pewter struck medal with obverse showing image of building with flag atop and tents in front; legend: "LIBBY PRISON/CHICAGO 1893"; inscription in exergue: "WAR MUSEUM." Reverse bears inscription: "1845/LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND, VA./ERECTED IN 1845 BY LUTHER LIBBY./OCCUPIED BY LIBBY & SON, SHIPCHANDLERS/AND GROCERS. IN 1861 TAKEN BY THE CONFEDER/ATES AND CONVERTED INTO A PRISON. FROM/1861 TO 1864 40,000 UNION PRISONERS WERE/CONFINED IN IT. LARGEST NUMBER AT ONE TIME 1400/FOR OFFICERS EXCLUSIVELY IN 1864 - 5. FEBRUARY 9/1864, 109 UNION OFFICERS MADE THEIR ESCAPE BY/THE CELEBRATED TUNNEL PLANNED BY COL. THOS./E.ROSE MOVED TO CHICAGO IN 1889, CONVERTED/INTO A NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM OWNED BY THE/LIBBY PRISON WAR MUSEUM A'SSN./C.F.GUNTHER, PRES;/L.MANASSE, VICE PRES;/C.E.KREMER SEC. AND TREAS./1893."; surrounding legend: "NO SECTIONALISM 1861 NO NORTH NO SOUTH 1865 NO ANIMOSITY"; image of two hands in handshake at top center. Medal set into black cloth-bound circular box with light pink textile interior.