WSET.com - ABC13Huge Grand Opening Expected at Museum of Confederacy

Reporter: Rachel Schaerr | Videographer: Jemon Haskins

Appomattox, VA - The finishing touches are taking place at the Museum of the Confederacy. In just a matter of weeks, thousands of people will descend on Appomattox for its grand opening.

They're expecting as many as 5,000 people at the grand opening ceremony alone. Already, it's offered a few people some jobs, an uptick in tourism and a slight increase for businesses, but even more, it's giving the people of Appomattox some hope.

Piece by piece the customized cases are coming together.

"They are what we consider, coming home," said Sam Craghead, who handles public relations for the museum.

It starts with a display for General Robert E. Lee's surrender sword.

"The sword hilt will be here with the point down," said Sam Craghead, pointing to the spot where the sword will be.

The rest of the artifacts will tell the Civil War's story chronologically.

"In these cases, this area is talking about the time leading up to the Civil War, the beginning of the war and then a brief overview," he said as he walked by the empty glass cases.

The clock is ticking because between 200 and 300 artifacts will move into these enclosures before the grand opening on March 31.

"In these cases will be photographs of people, clothes that they wore, uniforms they wore," said Craghead.

While construction workers make room for the priceless pieces, Kelly Harnett makes sure the gift shop is stocked.

"It's really busy, really exciting. I was hired officially last week. Today's my first day. And I'm just doing the different purchase orders and getting stock ready," she said.

The Appomattox resident was one of about 160 people looking to fill about 12 positions at the museum's job fair. She says this is the first bit of good news for the town in a long while.

The museum estimates 50,000 – 60,000 visitors will come through in the first year to see the story of the surrender come alive.

"You're gonna see the faces of those people and you're gonna get to know them," said Craghead.

The display casings should be completed by this Wednesday. Museum officials aren't saying when the artifacts will arrive for security reasons, but they say they'll be in place and ready for the grand opening on March 31.