Trial by Fire

Based on the accounts of real Civil War soldiers, Trial by Fire plunges guests into the reality of battle as described by its actual participants. This emotional 3-4 minute walk-through exhibit immerses the visitor in the defining experience of a Civil War soldier participating in battle for the very first time.

Trial by Fire is a completely new type of museum attraction that combines multimedia technologies, theatrical sets and lighting, and first person Civil War accounts. The result is a haunting journey through three parts of a battle: the approach, the battle, and the disengagement.

In the approach, you become a Civil War soldier ordered into combat by your captain. You march through a wooded area, experiencing activities and emotions typical in the final pre-battle moments. Next, you are ordered onto the battlefield where the fighting quickly escalates. Your captain calls for an urgent retreat, and you make your way back into the woods. In the disengagement, you witness the impact the battle has had on your fellow soldiers and the natural surroundings.

DVD available.