05/17/2026
"War and Rebellion" poster at the Canaan NH Meeting House.
Google tells us:
"This is an antique poster promoting an exhibition of historical imagery, likely from the American Civil War. These exhibitions traveled the country, often displaying giant painted panoramas, dioramas, or magic lantern slides. The phrase "No Magic Lantern Humbug" was a bold marketing tactic used by showmen to assure audiences they were getting a high-quality visual spectacle rather than cheap optical tricks. Wikipedia +4
These traveling panorama shows often combined education with entertainment. To better understand how audiences experienced these immersive historical graphics, explore the extensive resources on optical media and visual history. MoMA
Further historical background can be found via the following resources:
Learn more about the culture of 19th-century public storytelling and oral history in Lincoln's Yarns and Stories, available on Project Gutenberg.
Read excerpts detailing public reaction to speeches and the historical culture of the era through the Alexander K McClure, Lincoln's Yarns and Stories (1901) text.
Discover more about how historical documents and visual media are preserved and contextualized at the Digital Library of Georgia. "
