It might be 2014 to the rest of the world, but to the Washington State History Museum it's 1849. The downtown Tacoma museum will open "Civil War Pathways in the Pacific Northwest" Monday, Feb. 17, an exhibit focusing on the Civil War's impact on the Pacific Northwest. According to pre-opening hype, "This exhibit is about those choices and where they led - the pathways people took. These pathways were discovered through a large crowd-sourcing project that turned everyday citizens into historical researchers, allowing the collection of valuable references to Civil War-era life in Washington."

On display will be more than 150 original artifacts including rare items such as an early photograph of Abraham Lincoln, Isaac Stevens' sword, rare manuscripts, drawings from the U.S. National Archives, and a host of weapons, maps, sketches, and photographs. Together with the stories gleaned from the research project, visitors will experience a powerful exhibit connecting the issues of the past to those of today.

Opening Day

On President's Day, the museum will cut the 165-year-old ribbon, allowing those who have the day off - or are pretending to have the day off - to enjoy presentations and displays by Civil War reenactors portraying members of the military and the community from the Washington Territory including Gen. George Pickett and Washington resident Mrs. Sarah Bacheldor.

Exclusive WSHS Members-Only Reception and Program 
10-10:45 a.m.
Includes presentations by exhibit curator Lorraine McConaghy and retired Seattle Times editor Bruce Ramsey.

Territorial Voices: A Civil War Reader's Theater
11a.m. to noon, open to the public, free with Museum Admission
Come participate in an interactive, living theater piece where the audience reads the words of ordinary settlers, territorial military, and administrative leadership. Through the presentation, participants will realize the changing significance of words like "Democrat" and "Republican" and learn about various opinions on race and slavery in the Washington Territory.

Book Signing: Lance Weller, author of Wilderness
Noon to 1 p.m., free with museum admission
Wilderness is a fictional account of a Civil War veteran making his post-war home in the Pacific Northwest. This selection is part of the museum's Civil War Book Club. Weller will return Feb. 22 for a full presentation on his book and a Q&A.

I Am Always on the Women's Side: Vignettes of the Civil War
1 p.m., free with museum admission
Though women's voices are often lost amidst the din of the battlefield, their stories are an integral part of our nation's history. Karen Haas has researched numerous diaries, letters, and songs written by women to create a program portraying women from differing walks of life and points of view. These vignettes bring a frequently neglected side of the Civil War to life: women striving to survive in a time of violence, turmoil, and societal change. Your young child could be traumatized by the stories, so send them off to look at Civil War-era coffee pots.

Civil War Fashion Show
3 p.m., free with museum admission
Presented by the Goodwill of Tacoma, this fashion show recreates the look and feel of the Civil War era.

Bonus: Curator Lorraine McConaghy will be giving exhibit tours from 12:15 -1 p.m. and 2:15-3 p.m. This is a great opportunity to hear her explain the process behind putting this exhibit together.

"CIVIL WAR PATHWAY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST" OPENING DAY, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 888.238.4373