No Civil War battles were fought in or near Philadelphia, but the war came here in other ways. On trains and steamboats, tens of thousands of wounded and sick soldiers arrived in the city, to be cared for in local hospitals.

What was it like to fight, to become sick or injured, to take care of the wounded? Why did people—especially women—volunteer to work day and night to relieve the suffering of soldiers? What was it like to miss home or die alone?

We explore these questions via artifacts, anatomical specimens, and illustrations from the Museum’s and other collections. You can even step inside our interactive experience that lets you see what it would be like to have an arm amputated.