Lee and Grant

   By the end of the Civil War, most Americans considered either Robert E. Lee or Ulysses S. Grant to be a hero. Since then, their reputations have risen and fallen, often in direct contrast to each other. Although much has been written about the Civil War careers of both men, few efforts have explored their lives and meaning over an extended period of time. How should we evaluate these two crucial figures in the twenty-first century?
    Lee and Grant, an exhibition from the Virginia Historical Society, was originally developed in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert E. Lee. The exhibition encourages museum audiences to explore such questions for themselves by tracing the lives, careers, and historical impact of these two Civil War generals in relationship to each other. Drawing upon a rich assortment of documents, letters, historic photographs, paintings, prints, and other materials from nationally significant collections, Lee and Grant offers a biographical comparison of the two men, providing a rare glimpse into how each man understood himself and his place in the world.
     By examining, side by side, how these lives interconnected and converged and how each man’s image came to symbolize different things at different points in history, Lee and Grant lets museum visitors make their own decisions about how to assess the historical significance of these two famous Americans today.

This exhibition is currently in development. The exhibition content list and square footage requirements are estimated, and imagery shown on this website are representative of the visual content of the exhibition. Please contact Exhibitor Relations at 800-473-3872 (EUSA) for the most current information.