The Civil War in Miniature

Detailed dioramas offer a unique view of the Civil War

On August 6 from 10 am to 5 pm and August 7 from 11 am to 5 pm, The National Museum of Civil War Medicine will host the display of a remarkable collection of miniature dioramas, depicting various settings on Civil War battlefields, including a detailed depiction of a field hospital tent.

The 1:12 scale dioramas are all handmade by Jacob M. Messina, Sr. from basswood, polymer clay, cloth, and styrofoam. Following retirement from Federal service, Mr. Messina began crafting U.S. Civil War camp scene dioramas to depict the life of the common soldier.  Messina will be on hand to discuss how he crafts the dioramas and what they represent. His dioramas have been on display at museums, schools, and libraries in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

This event is included with admission to the Museum, and it is FREE for members of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

Jacob Michael Messina, Sr. served as a civilian for the Office of Naval Intelligence. He spent the majority of his career managing intelligence analytical groups at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland.  His final management position was Executive Director of the Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center, where he provided intelligence support to U.S. Navy SEAL operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Messina served in the United States Air Force and holds a Masters Degree in Criminology from Florida State University.

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