Enslavementto
freedom
Harrisburg on the eve of Civil War
Study Areas
John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion
USCT Soldiers Gathered for Cameron's Speech During Grand Review
John Harris' son and founder of Harrisburg, also named John Harris, built the mansion, which was many years later substantially remodeled by U.S. Senator Simon Cameron. Cameron served as Abraham Lincoln's first Secretary of War during the first year of the Civil War.
Cameron reviewed Pennsylvania's African American soldiers from the porch of this house when they returned to Harrisburg for mustering out following the war. This event was organized by central Pennsylvania African American citizens to honor African American troops that had been snubbed from attending the war-end "Grand Review" in Washington, DC. In November 2010, Harrisburg commemorated the event with re-enactments and other celebrations.
All photographs and text on this page copyright © 2010 George F. Nagle and Afrolumens Project.
Notes and Links
- Historical Society of Dauphin County Offers Mansion history and tours
- Historical Marker Database page for this spot
- More photographs from Harrisburg's November 2010 Parade Re-enactment
- More on the Grand Review, from Dickinson College's House Divided Project
Of Interest Nearby