Andrew G. Curtin
Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Governor of Pennsylvania, 1861-67, was born on this site. He brought about the establishment of State Normal Schools; organized the famed Pennsylvania Reserve Corps; obtained funds for the erection of State Orphan Schools.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
On this site was born Andrew G. Curtin, Pennsylvania's Civil War governor. Elected in 1861, he steered the state through the conflict, organizing the celebrated Pennsylvania Reserve Corps and championing the soldiers of the Union. His legacy reached beyond the battlefield: he pushed for State Normal Schools to train teachers and secured funding for State Orphan Schools to care for the children of the war dead.
Why it matters
As one of the North's most effective wartime governors, Curtin embodied how state leadership mobilized men, money, and public institutions to sustain the Union cause.
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Related people
- · Andrew G. Curtin
Related events
- · American Civil War
Themes & tags
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