Camp Fuller: Civil War Day
Schedule
Sat, 09 May, 2026 at 10:00 am
UTC-05:00Location
6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, IL, United States, Illinois 61107 | Rockford, IL
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Make plans to attend this very special, one-day public history event at Midway Village Museum!Midway’s historic village will be transformed into the Civil War Era with visitors learning about Rockford’s 1862 Civil War training camp for Illinois recruits.
When: Saturday, May 9 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Event highlights:
* Meet famous people: President Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, General U. S. Grant and many others
* Experience being a soldier, including marching and drilling
* Visit the 1850s Barn to learn about the Underground Railroad
* Experience period school lessons in a one-room schoolhouse
* Learn about Civil War doctors and medicine
* Plus, many other Living History stations throughout the village
If you would like to become an event sponsor, please contact us at 815-397-9112.
About Rockford's Camp Fuller:
Camp Fuller was a Civil War training ground for Illinois soldiers, and was open for only a few months in 1862. The site was chosen in July 1862 by the Illinois adjutant general, General Allen C. Fuller of Belvidere.
General Fuller named Col. Jason Marsh as commandant who then named the camp after General Fuller. It was officially established in August 1862 when the first Illinois troops arrived. Four regiments were formed at Camp Fuller: the 74th (composed of Winnebago County men), the 92nd (composed of Ogle, Stephenson, and Carroll County men), the 95th (composed of McHenry and Boone County men), and the 96th (composed of Jo Daviess and Lake County men).
Rockford citizens often took trips to visit soldiers training at Camp Fuller and enjoy picnics together, demonstrating the depth of local support for the soldiers who trained there.
Costs
$15 – Adults
$12 – Children ages 5-12
$12 – Seniors 62+
FREE – Infants/Toddlers 0-4
FREE – Museum Members
Admission tickets also may be purchased upon arrival to the event. This is a rain-or-shine event – no refunds will be issued. No pets are allowed, however, service animals are permitted. Only registered reenactors may wear historic military uniforms.
Make sure to stop by the Main Museum Center to tour exhibits such as "Many Faces, One Community," "The Girls of Summer" and "Camp Grant." No trip would be complete with popping into the Gift Shop. There you will find colorful bonnets, Abe Lincoln Bobblehead dolls and so much more.
Questions? Call 815-397-9112.
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Where is it happening?
6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, IL, United States, Illinois 61107Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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