2026 Elmira Civil War Symposium & Open House
Schedule
Fri, 24 Jul, 2026 at 12:00 pm to Sun, 26 Jul, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Elmira College | Elmira, NY
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The Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp and Elmira College are sponsoring a symposium Friday, Jul 24 through Sunday July 26, 2026. Presentations will cover a range of topics related to Elmira’s Civil War history. Scheduled activities will take place on the historic Elmira College campus.Registration information will be posted shortly.
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Thomas K. Meier Keynote Speaker
Scott Mingus, Sr
“Northern Central & Elmira-Williamsport Railroad”
The Northern Central Railway and its partner line, the Elmira & Williamsport Railroad, were key routes to send troops, supplies, food, and ammunition to the Union armies. Confederate troops targeted the NCR during the Gettysburg Campaign, destroying more than 30 bridges on the line in southern Pennsylvania. The next summer, trainloads of Confederate prisoners captured during U.S. Grant's Overland Campaign steamed north to Elmira. Author Scott Mingus will discuss the history of the railroad and its role in the Federal war effort.
Multiple award-winning author Scott Mingus is a retired scientist and executive in the global specialty paper industry. The Ohio native graduated from Miami University. He was part of the research team that developed the first commercially successful self-adhesive U.S. postage stamps, and he was a pioneer in the early development of bar code labels. He has written more than 35 Civil War and Underground Railroad books and numerous articles for Gettysburg Magazine and other historical journals. He has appeared on C-SPAN, C-SPAN3, PBS, PCN, and other TV networks. Mingus writes the Cannonball blog on the Civil War history of York County, PA, where he and his wife Debi live. He has also written six scenario books for miniature wargaming and was elected to the hobby’s Legion of Honor.
Mingus received lifetime achievement awards from the York County History Center, the Northeastern York County Historical and Preservation Society, and the Camp Curtin Historical Society for his many contributions to local Civil War history. His biography of William “Extra Billy” Smith won two national awards for Confederate military history. The Gettysburg Civil War Round Table presented Mingus and co-author Eric Wittenberg with the 2023 Bachelder-Coddington Award for the best new book on the Gettysburg Campaign, If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania.
Schedule
Jul 24 –
• check in Meier Hall
• evening social in Stephans Lounge
Jul 25 –
• Breakfast
• Saturday morning – Welcome and 3 presentations
• Lunch
• Saturday afternoon activities
o Option A (great for 1st time attendees) –
Bus tour of wartime locations with stops at
Barracks Three, Woodlawn National Cemetery
John W. Jones Museum
o Option B
Park Church – created by split over the issue of
abolitionism, congregation of Thomas K. Beecher
Chaplain 141st NY Volunteer Infantry & Elmira Depot
of Prisoners
Arnot Art Museum (established with a 19th century art
collection by the Arnot family, a major military
contractor & Barracks #1/HQ was named after)
o Option C – Group is limited to 15 registered attendees!
Quarry Farm – Langdon family farm (UGRR participant
home of Mark Twain’s wife Olivia & location where
Twain wrote some of his books
Chemung Valley History Museum – Civil War era artifact
& Mark Twain exhibits
o Option D
Panel Discussion – Researching, writing and publishing
historical information. Panel comprised of published
authors.
• Saturday evening – Thomas K. Meier Keynote Address &
dinner
Jul 26 –
• Breakfast
• Sunday morning- 3 presentations & conclusion
• Sunday afternoon – Open House, guided tours and book signing at Barracks #3
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Where is it happening?
Elmira College, 1 Park Pl,Elmira, New York, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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