JOIN US ON TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025 AT 7:15 P.M. (Pacific Time)
FOR A PRESENTATION ON:
"ORMSBY MITCHEL: ASTRONOMER -- GENERAL -- VISIONARY"
WITH George Melrod, Los Angeles Civil War Round Table

Prior to the Civil War, Ormsby Mitchel was the most celebrated astronomer in the United States, whose lectures on the wonders of the heavens drew huge crowds. As a Union general, he captured Huntsville, Alabama, while his plans for capturing Chattanooga might have ended the Civil War years earlier had he been supported by his superiors. Responsible for the infamous Great Locomotive Chase, he then founded the first community for freed slaves in the country. Drawing from extensive research and featuring a wealth of images, George Melrod’s presentation on Mitchel will trace the colorful career and fascinating life of this forgotten American visionary.

George Melrod graduated Harvard University, but has been a student of the Civil War all of his life. He has written extensively about visual art and culture and was the editor of the largest contemporary art magazine in California until 2017. He’s also written historical fiction and taught writing at UCLA. Fascinated by the what-ifs of the Civil War, his presentations strive to re-examine forgotten figures of that era through abundant imagery and compelling visual story-telling. A member of the Los Angeles Civil War Round Table, he previously spoke to the Pasadena Civil War Round Table in 2024, on “John Gibbon: Iron Man of the Army of the Potomac.”
Thanks to the volunteer efforts and expertise of our Pasadena CWRT members, Tina Miller and Monika Skerbelis, we are now able to record our monthly meetings and post the videos to our YouTube Channel for your enjoyment and edification if you are unable to join us for our live meetings. We invite you to check out the videos from our two years of virtual meetings, as well as our most recent presentations, at our YouTube Channel:

CLICK HERE
We are indebted to Tina and Monika for helping us to bring this wonderful added benefit to allow our non-local members and guests to enjoy the presentations of our distinguished roster of speakers.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR IN-PERSON MEETING:
Pasadena CWRT - TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025 - 7:15 PM (Pacific Time)
The Blinn House - 160 North Oakland Avenue - Pasadena
|