See “Battle Hymn’s” Original Manuscript at the Place it Was Written

One of the best things about living in Washington, DC is the history that surrounds you at every turn.

willardSo trust us when we tell you to take advantage of this FREE two-day special exhibit at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel.  This exhibit is unique — it features the original manuscript of the classic Civil War hymn, the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” only on view November 1st and 2nd.

In this exclusive first look at the original manuscript of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” it is returning to the place it was written by Julia Ware Howe.  Howe remembered writing the lyrics during her stay as a guest at the Willard: “I sprang out of bed… I scrawled the verses almost without looking at the paper.” The hymn appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and quickly became a classic anthem in the wake of the Civil War, and endures in its symbolic patriotism today. 

Public Exhibit Hours are Tuesday, November 1, from 12pm to 7pm, and Wednesday, November 2, from 10am to 7pm, but you won’t want to miss live performances of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and other period piece music by pianist Robert Frost each night at 5pm.