Discover the Sacrifice and Service of U.S. Military Chaplains in Wartime

The Museum will be closed Saturday, April 19 through Monday, April 21 in observance of the Easter holiday.

National Civil War Chaplains Museum

Throughout American history, military chaplains have exemplified servant leadership in the midst of the challenges of division and war as they worked to meet the spiritual needs of men and women in uniform.

Located on the campus of Liberty University, the Chaplains Museum features an extensive collection of objects and artifacts that tell the stories of U.S. military chaplains in the camp, on the battlefield, and among prisoners of war. Visitors will learn how chaplains from diverse backgrounds have used a variety of means and methods to carry out their ministry during times of war.

About

Serving with a Unique Purpose

Founded in 2005 as a private organization, the Chaplains Museum is now part of the History Department at Liberty University. Our mission is to showcase the service of U.S. Military Chaplains throughout American history through historical research and the collection and preservation of related artifacts.

The museum also functions as a student laboratory for research, exhibit design, collections care, and special projects.

The Chaplains Museum:

Collects, preserves, and studies objects and documents related to military chaplains
Encourages student research in topics related to religion in wartime, specifically in the context of military chaplains and their ministry
Presents programs that highlight the role of chaplains and military service in shaping the spiritual lives of those who serve in the armed forces

Donate

Support the Chaplain’s Museum through an online donation.

All donated funds will go toward acquiring, caring for, and interpreting items related to the service of U.S. military Chaplains and the religious lives of servicemembers as well as events and activities that further the mission of the Museum.

Give to the Chaplain’s Museum

As part of the History Department at Liberty University, the Chaplains Museum has become an active learning laboratory for students.

Learn More About Chaplain History

Students in the Chaplains Museum conduct research on the history of chaplains and objects in our collection. Learn along with them by reading our posts below and following us on Instagram.

Follow Chaplains Museum on Instagram

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Mar 17

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Meet Alex!

As a junior working towards his bachelor`s degree in social sciences education, Alex is excited to get some hands-on experience in the Chaplains Museum. In the future, he hopes to share his love of history as a teacher in the classroom.

One of Alex’s favorite exhibits is "Chaplains in Pop Culture." To learn more about how the chaplaincy has influenced the American experience through inventions like basketball and through fictional depictions in hit shows like M*A*S*H*, follow us on Instagram and stop by the museum!

#libertyuniversity #studentworker #history #museum #chaplains ...

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Mar 12

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As my highly capable boss, Professor Donna Donald, expertly navigated the winding roads of West Virginia, I (Haley) settled down in my seat and enjoyed the company. How did I come to join this mission to purchase two World War II field organs? The trip was made possible by the generous bequest of the late Dr. Mark Steinhoff, a veteran and long-time Liberty professor who remembered the History Department in his will.

Our destination was Logan County, West Virginia and the collection of Rev. Daryl Densford. A beautiful river flowed between rolling hills – but hills meant stairs, and stairs would be a challenge when it came to transporting the two WWII field organs now featured in the Chaplains Museum.

We were greeted by Rev. Densford, a retired Army chaplain with a passion for collecting items related to chaplains and their historical ministries. He has accumulated a significant collection of books and artifacts, and my phone battery rapidly depleted as I snapped dozens of photos. After a few hours of examining his collection, we hauled the organs down the stairs slowly but successfully and enjoyed a hearty Chick-fil-A dinner on the drive back.

The field organs, now displayed in the Chaplain’s Museum, will always bring back fond memories of my fun road trip. Since then, the Chaplains Museum staff and Public History students have been researching the organs and preparing for a new exhibit highlighting the work of the chaplains who used them. Meanwhile, stop by to check them out and let us know what you think!

Image 1: Logan, West Virginia, https://wvtourism.com/logan/.

Image 2: The two field organs, boxed up for transit and sitting outside the Jerry Falwell Library.

Image 3: Students in Public History discuss one of our two portable field organs, open and ready for service here in the Chaplains Museum!

#studentworker #libertyuniversity #history #ww2 #fieldorgan #roadtrip ...

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Mar 6

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It’s Women’s History Month! To celebrate, we will be highlighting some notable female chaplains, starting with Chaplain (CAPT) Jennifer Bowden.

Chaplain Jennifer Bowden is the thirteenth to serve as head Chaplain of the Coast Guard, and the first female chaplain to take that position. Her interest in chaplaincy began over thirty years ago, when she attended the Coast Guard Festival in Michigan as a teen. In 2001, after receiving her Master of Divinity at Emory University, she was ordained by the United Methodist Church and enlisted in the Navy. Bowden served around the world in her first year as a Navy Chaplain, ministering to servicemembers in Japan, Iraq, and the Pacific.

With her Navy career spanning nearly 24 years, Bowden has served the Coast Guard since 2004. She has assisted hurricane survivors, counseled first responders to the Boston Marathon bombing, and ministered in the wake of a lethal mudslide in Washington. Bowden cares deeply for the spiritual well-being of servicemembers, saying, “I believe that all people are spiritual beings, whether you express that spirit through a particular faith or another avenue. I’m here to help you on your path however I can.”

As the first female Chaplain of the Coast Guard, she is looking forward to “the women coming after,” since they will make the position accessible for women. Her work is making way for more female representation in the chaplaincy.

Stop by the museum to see our upcoming display on diversity in the chaplaincy, which celebrates various “firsts” in service. Be sure to follow us and stay tuned to learn more about other groundbreaking female chaplains!

#libertyuniversity #womenshistorymonth #coastguard #navy #usmilitary ...

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Mar 4

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Plan Your Visit to the Chaplains Museum

Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Summer Hours (June, July, August)
Monday, Thursday, Friday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The museum is located in the Jerry Falwell Library on Liberty University’s Campus. Learn more about our location and parking.

Exhibits and Museum Collection

Devoted to Service

Historically, U.S. military chaplains have performed many roles. They have preached, acted as personal counselors, cared for the sick and dying, handled military postal services, administered literacy programs, and in some cases even joined in battle. View the following Chaplains Museum exhibits and explore our online collections catalog.

Explore All Exhibits View Collection Catalog

Introducing the Chaplaincy: A History of Service

Shiloh Chapel: Religion and the Bible in Times of War

Partners in Service: Service Organizations Partnering With Chaplains

Service to the Suffering: Chaplains' Ministry in the Hospitals and Prison Camps

Diversity in Service: Unifying With a Common Purpose

Service on the Battlefield: Chaplains in the Midst of Battle

Service on the Homefront: Chaplains Ministry to the Families of Service Members

Chaplains in the Service of the Gospel: Evangelism in the Military

Take the accessible-friendly route to the Chaplains Museum.

Location

Getting to the Museum

The Chaplains Museum can be found on the terrace level of the Jerry Falwell Library. The Library’s main exterior entrance is located at the southern end of the Academic Lawn.

Visitor parking passes are required daily excluding weekends. For further assistance or questions about the parking policy, see LUPD’s visitor parking information.

For directions to campus, shuttle information, and more, explore the university’s visitor’s guide.

Contact

(434) 582-7090

chaplainsmuseum@liberty.edu

Chaplains Museum

Liberty University Department of History

1971 University Blvd.

Lynchburg, VA 24515

Follow us on Instagram where we regularly share highlights from chaplaincy history.