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Exhibit cases in a grey-colored room with a digital screen on the wall that says "Fill the Ranks." A replica of a Civil War banner with red, white, and blue colors hangs on the back wall.

Fill-the-Ranks-Exhibit-Detroit-Observatory-Lobby

October 14, 2026

Dig Deeper Into the Civil War

by Skyler Leslie

Check out two new programs connected to the current Civil War exhibition at the Frankel Detroit Observatory in Ann Arbor. These programs are free and open to the public.

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As one of the oldest buildings on the Ann Arbor campus and part of the Bentley Historical Library, the Frankel Detroit Observatory is a hub for U-M history.

Built in 1854, the Observatory witnessed the profound changes that the Civil War brought to the University, Ann Arbor, and the nation. Our exhibition “Fill the Ranks”: The Civil War and the University of Michigan explores those connections and the experiences of the U-M community during this pivotal period.

We’re pleased to offer two upcoming programs connected to the exhibition. These programs are free and open to the public, with registration required. We hope you’ll join us!

Black Washtenaw County and the Civil War: Motorcoach and Walking Tour

Sunday, November 22, 1-4 pm
🚌 Register for details

Visit sites connected to Black Civil War veterans who made Washtenaw County their home. Historians Deborah Meadows and Matthew Siegfried will lead a motorcoach and walking tour through Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

Presented in partnership with the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County.

Learn More and Register

The Anishnaabek of Company K: The Union Army’s Largest Indian Regiment

Wednesday, December 2, 6-7:30 pm
📍 Frankel Detroit Observatory

Join Eric Hemenway for an exploration of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. This unit, comprised of 139 Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi soldiers, fought in the American Civil War at the same time their tribal communities faced struggles of their own with the United States.

Learn More and Register