Inquirer editorial: Sending Civil War artifacts to Gettysburg makes sense

It typically takes less than three hours to travel the 140 miles between Philadelphia and Gettysburg. But it took years to reach the conclusion that artifacts in the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia's collection should be moved to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.

The collection hasn't had a permanent home since 2008, when a mansion at 18th and Pine Streets that served as the museum closed. The plan then was to build a more fitting facility to serve as a museum, but it never happened. A $15 million appropriation to accomplish that mission was approved by the legislature, but Gov. Ed Rendell decided not to release the money after the recession hit. Many artifacts were boxed away, while others were loaned for display at other institutions.

The dream of one day building a new museum in Philadelphia persisted until last week, when the deal with the Gettysburg Foundation, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, was announced. About 3,000 artifacts will be transferred for display by the foundation. Others will travel the shorter distance to the National Constitution Center for a permanent exhibit exploring the constitutional impact of the Civil War. The Union League will also receive some for its Civil War collection.

The artifacts include Gen. George G. Meade's bullet-pierced felt hat, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Tiffany sword and scabbard, Gen. George A. Custer's personal battle flag, plaster casts of Abraham Lincoln's hands and face, Jefferson Davis' smoking jacket, and sundry guns, letters, journals, and photographs.

It's disappointing that there won't be a Civil War museum to complement all the Philadelphia institutions devoted to the nation's birth, including the new Museum of the American Revolution under construction a few blocks from Independence Hall on Chestnut Street. The decision is understandable, however, considering the number of local museums trying to attract visitors - among them the National Museum of American Jewish History, which has struggled since its 2010 opening to reach its original goal of 250,000 visitors a year.

Oliver St. Clair Franklin, the chairman of the Philadelphia Civil War Museum's board, said letting other institutions display the artifacts simply recognizes current realities. "The Civil War Museum has crafted an elegant and careful solution to a challenge faced by historical and cultural organizations throughout the region," he said. "There are not enough resources to achieve all of what their missions require of them individually."

Other museums and institutions should heed the lesson of the Civil War Museum and find ways to cooperate and collaborate to reduce expenses and increase attendance. Meanwhile, it's welcome news that these artifacts of one of the most important moments in American history will finally be taken out of their boxes.