Recognizing the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia for their commitment to maintaining one of the largest collections of Civil War related materials and supporting efforts to construct a new museum that will showcase Philadelphia's role in that history.

WHEREAS, The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum was founded in 1888 by veterans Union Army, Navy and Marine Corps officers to preserve the history of that conflict and to promote public education through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts and written and photographic documents; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Museum holds more than 3,000 artifacts including firearms, weapons and uniforms, more than 7,000 photographs, hundreds of art works and about 400 cubic feet of archival material; and

WHEREAS, The Museum tells the story of the Civil War with Philadelphia, it’s people, and all the stories of leadership, bravery and sacrifice of individuals, black and white, at the center; and

WHEREAS, The 150th Anniversary of the Civil War will be commemorated in 2011-2015 and the new Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum in the First Bank of the United States will be essential if Philadelphia is to be recognized as an important tourist destination for Civil War history; and

WHEREAS, Given the popularity of the Museum as both a tourist attraction and desired location to showcase various artifacts and materials, the Museum is now looking to construct a new museum in the First Bank of the United States building to better meet its needs; and

WHEREAS, The Delaware River Port Authority has bond funds for capital projects in the historic district of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum would be an ideal candidate for a portion of these funds to use towards the construction of a new museum that could attract and expand the number of visitors to the historic district; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has authorized but not released $15 million of funding for Museum capital improvements. These funds are needed and should be made available to make a new museum a reality; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Bob Brady among others are currently advocating for funding specifically for renovations to the First Bank and for the preservation and exhibition of our important military history collection; and

WHEREAS, These funds will help make it possible for the Museum to be completed in 2010 in time for the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War and to ensure that Philadelphia’s deep and rich history of the Civil War gains regional, national, and international visibility in 2011-2015 and far into the future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia for their commitment to maintaining one of the largest collections of Civil War related materials and support efforts to construct a new museum that will showcase Philadelphia’s role in that history.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia as evidence of the sincere sentiments and recognition of this legislative body.

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