 General John A. Logan (1826 – 1886) played an important role in our country’s history. At a young age he rose to prominence in state politics. The Civil War brought him national fame as a dashing, popular, and, some say, the best of the volunteer generals. With his energetic, brave temperament, and darkly dramatic good looks, he embodied the hero to many of his contemporaries. After the war, Logan’s Senate career; his leadership of the powerful veterans  organization, known as the Grand Army of the Republic; and his campaign for the Vice Presidency in 1884 made him one of the most famous men in the nation.
Logan’s fame did not end with his death — he would be honored well into the twentieth century as the founder of Memorial Day. Today statues commemorating Logan can be found in Chicago, Vicksburg, and Washington, as well as in Murphysboro, Illinois, his birthplace. Even a peak in the Rocky Mountains bears his name.
Facilities
Christopher C. Bullar House:
The General John A. Logan Museum is located within the Christopher C. Bullar House. The neatly displayed exhibits on the first floor tell the story of General John A. Logan through the use of photographs, portraits, maps, political memorabilia, Logan family antiques, and Civil War weapons.
Walking Trail:
There is a walking trail around the grounds of the museum. Along the trail are interpretive signposts highlighting historic points of interest. Included along the trail is the Samuel Dalton house and the site of General Logan’s birthplace.
Samuel H. Dalton House
Samuel H. Dalton was born a slave in November 1839. When he was freed under the Emancipation Proclamation, Dalton enlisted in the Union Navy and was assigned to the U.S.S. Juliet, a gunboat patrolling the Mississippi River. After the war, he moved to Cairo, Illinois, and then to Carbondale, Illinois, where he married his first wife, Mary Stanton,
in 1870. Sometime around 1887, he moved to Murphysboro and purchased this small home for $150 from the John A. Logan estate. In October 1891 Dalton became a charter member of the Murphysboro Post #728 (colored) of the Grand Army of the Republic. Dalton married his second wife, Lumisa Hall, in this house in 1892. The small home was shared by the Daltons, Lumisa’s sister, and two small nephews. Dalton died on June 7, 1920.
The home is in the process of being restored by the museum. Assisting the museum in this project are local Eagle scouts. In 1996 local sixth-grade students participated in an archaeological dig on the Dalton house grounds as part of the museum’s Kids Dig It educational program.
The Sheley House
The Sheley House is the headquarters of the Murphysboro Tourism Commission. It was once the home of the Frank Sheley, a printer, and his Family who resided in the home during the early 20th century. Today, the Sheley House hosts a small exhibit on the history of Murphysboro and is open on special days and by request. Please inquire at the museum's front desk.
The Hughes Gallery
The Hughes Gallery opened its doors in December 2007. Like the other houses on the block, the house was fully renovated by the museum to take it back to its original look and feel. At the turn of the century, the home was inhabited by William Hughes, a surveyor, and his wife Haley and their children. The Hughes House now serves as gallery space for local artists. Many items are for sale.
Hours vary depending on whether artists are in residence. If you would like to see the Hughes Gallery please inquire at the front desk of the museum. |
