During the Civil War, blacks formed the Colored Troops who fought with the Union Army for their freedom.

“Twenty three of these men won the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Civil War — 23 blacks,” said Frank Smith, founding director of the African-American Civil War Memorial and Museum. “By contrast, no blacks won the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War I or II. None.”

Founded in 1999, the African-American Civil War Memorial and Museum was built, according to Smith, to “correct the wrong of leaving the black soldiers out of the history books.”

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Civil War Museum Is A Monument To Freedom

Civil War Museum Celebrates Black Soldiers

Black Soldiers Helped Fight For Freedom

Civil War Museum Highlights Black Soldiers

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Multimedia

Meet Frank Smith, founding director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, D.C.

PHOTO SLIDESHOW | by Selina Dudley and Laurel Hattix

VIDEO | By Josh Samson and Briana Savage/UJW