Rare watercolors of Civil War showcased at Discovery Museum

Visitors can view rare and historic watercolor maps and illustrations made by a Union soldier during the Civil War in the national touring exhibition, "Civil War Journey: The Maps and Sketches of Private Robert Sneden."

The exhibition runs through Jan. 3 at the Lake County Discovery Museum near Wauconda.

Civil War Journey, on tour by the Virginia Historical Society, features 45 of Robert Knox Sneden's (1832-1918) maps and drawings, providing a unique and mesmerizing perspective on the Civil War. Sneden served as a Union soldier and mapmaker in the Army of the Potomac in Virginia. After spending 13 months as a prisoner of war in various Confederate prisons, he returned home in December 1864 and compiled a memoir and scrapbook of images documenting his service.

His scrapbooks came to light in 1993 after spending more than 60 years in a bank vault in Connecticut. Additional research led to the discovery in 1997 of the five-volume memoir in a storage unit outside Tucson, Arizona.

"We are so excited that Civil War Journey will be seen in Illinois for the first time," said Rebecca Rose, registrar for the Virginia Historical Society.

"The Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda is the westernmost venue for the exhibition so far in its run. It is wonderful that Illinois visitors will learn about the treasures of the Virginia Historical Society, and about the amazing work of Private Sneden."

"Civil War Journey: The Maps and Sketches of Private Robert Sneden" is a traveling exhibition organized by the VHS to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.

For more information about the exhibit or to download discount admission coupons, visit http://www.lcfpd.org/museum/exhibitions/ or call (847) 968-3400.

Learn more about Lake County's history and involvement in the Civil War by visiting the Lake County History Blog. Follow the Museum on Facebook and Twitter @LakeCoMuseum or visit LCFPD.org/Museum for dates and times of special exhibit programs and events.

The Lake County Discovery Museum is on Route 176, just west of Fairfield Road and east of Wauconda in Lakewood Forest Preserve. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6, $3 for seniors ages 62 and older and students ages 18 to 25, and $2.50 for youth ages 4 to 17. Children 3 years and younger get in free. On Discount Tuesdays, admission is $3 and free for youth 17 years and younger.

Admission is free for museum members.