The Civil War experiences of six eastern Iowans, including two with links to the University of Iowa and its Old Capitol building, are the focus of a free public lecture set for Thursday, May 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the Hanson Family Humanities Gallery of the UI’s Old Capitol Museum.

The talk, by Old Capitol Museum Associate Director Shalla Ashworth, is offered in conjunction with the current exhibit, “Gone to See the Elephant: The Civil War through the Eyes of Iowa Soldiers.” Although the exhibit will remain open through Sunday, May 26, the May 16 event includes a closing reception with light refreshments beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing after Ashworth’s talk until 7 p.m.

To enhance the experience for visitors relating to Civil War stories, six eastern Iowans’ personal stories will be featured, including that of Nick Messenger, a UI student who was wounded in the war, and Walcott Seymour, the grandson of an Iowa legislator who worked in the Old Capitol building, who returned from war unharmed. Among the artifacts showcased in the exhibit, are a cast set of President Abraham Lincoln’s hands, a handwritten diary of Henry Clay Seymour and a large collection of period armaments.

“Gone to See the Elephant,” staged in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, examines the roles of the State of Iowa and the UI during the war and features primary resources, artifacts, historical documents, and educational programming. Visitors can see how Iowa soldiers experienced daily camp life, faced injuries on the battlefield, survived prisoner camps, and longed for home.

The Old Capitol Museum gift shop continues to feature Civil War merchandise, including Civil War cypher wheels and books on local Civil War topics.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. For more information on the UI Pentacrest Museums and Old Capitol Museum, visit www.uiowa.edu/oldcap/ or call 319-335-0548.