General John A. Logan Museum to host Memorial Day celebration in Murphysboro

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (KBSI) — Visitors at the General John A. Logan Museum spent Memorial Day learning about the origins of the holiday through a live historical portrayal of the man credited with helping establish it nationwide.

The museum hosted its annual Memorial Day celebration Monday in Murphysboro, the hometown of Civil War General John A. Logan.

The event featured storyteller, historian and historical reenactor Brian “Fox” Ellis, who portrayed Logan during a presentation about the creation of Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day.

Ellis told visitors Logan issued General Order No. 11 in 1868 as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, calling for communities to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers.

Historians say the holiday’s roots trace back to Southern women decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers after the Civil War, a tradition that later inspired Logan’s national order.

Museum organizers said the celebration also included music, an ice cream social and family-friendly activities aimed at making history engaging and accessible for visitors of all ages.

Ellis said Logan’s story is often overlooked despite his military and political influence following the Civil War.

“The more we know, the better choices we make,” Ellis said during the event. “Logan’s story is so important.”

The General John A. Logan Museum features permanent and rotating exhibits focused on Logan’s life, the Civil War and 19th-century American history. Museum officials said the site hosts educational programs and community events throughout the year.

To learn more visit: LoganMuseum.org