The Hanover County Historical Society's Annual Christmas Dinner Meeting took place on Tuesday, December 2 at Covenant Woods. Some 40 people attended the event, and enjoyed the presentation of special guest speaker Eric App, Director of Museum Operations at the Museum of the Confederacy.


Above: Eric App in action.
Below: Mr. App is presented with several books
by HCHS Vice President of Programs Joe O'Connor.

Mr. App's presentation was Virtual Richmond: Computer Created Mapping 1861-1865.

Visitors to the White House of the Confederacy and the Museum often asked what Confederate president Jefferson Davis could see from the mansion during the Civil War. Eric App's personal and long-term project was to create a virtual map of Civil War-era Richmond, enabling us to "walk the streets" of yesterday.

The study of such documents as the US Army Corps of Engineers' 1867 map of Richmond, Frederick W. Beers’ 1876 Illustrated Atlas of Richmond and period insurance records, has enabled Mr. App to create an impressive and fascinating virtual city.

With his computer programs, App “can give an overview of the city’s history. You can walk people through wartime Richmond, you can rouse the public’s curiosity by showing them something solid - like Libby Prison.”



Source: Virtual map explores Civil War in Richmond by Linda Wheeler: Washington Post blog, 8.14.13