Berlin Historical Society Museum

Honoring Berlin’s African American Civil War Soldiers

The Berlin Historical Society Museum serves as a vital site of remembrance for the town’s African American soldiers who fought for freedom during the Civil War. Through its exhibit featuring the award-winning documentary The 29th Connecticut, the museum preserves and interprets the stories of the eleven Black men from Berlin who enlisted in the 29th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops—one of the first Black regiments formed after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The 29th Connecticut: A Regiment Fighting Toward Freedom

Formed in 1863–64, the 29th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was composed of African American soldiers determined to fight for the liberation of enslaved people and the preservation of the Union. The eleven Berlin residents who joined the regiment took immense personal risk at a time when African Americans serving in uniform faced discrimination, limited pay, and the threat of execution if captured by the Confederacy.

The regiment went on to serve in major engagements in the final campaigns of the Civil War, ultimately helping secure universal freedom and shaping the future of the United States.

Preserving Their Legacy Through Film

The Berlin Historical Society Museum now houses a dedicated exhibit featuring The 29th Connecticut — a 15-minute documentary film that won Best Connecticut Film at the 2023 Mystic Film Festival.

This powerful short documentary tells the story of Berlin’s eleven Black Civil War soldiers and situates their service within the larger history of the 29th Regiment and the fight for emancipation.

Watch the film online:
The 29th Connecticut
https://vimeo.com/833831990/b7d45f962f

The exhibit offers visitors both historical interpretation and opportunities for reflection, connecting Berlin’s local Civil War history to the wider African American struggle for justice.