Exhibitions

Powerful Partnerships: Civil War-Era Couples

July 1, 2022 – May 18, 2025
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National Portrait Gallery
8th and G Streets, NW
Washington, DC

Long before the term “power couple” found its way into English lexicon, dynamic duos had been making their mark on U.S. history. Powerful Partnerships: Civil War-Era Couples sheds light on the stories and faces of five couples whose work and lives shaped the nation around them during tumultuous times. Featuring photography by the iconic Mathew Brady Studio, the exhibition introduces visitors to the exploits of Nathaniel and Mary Banks, John and Jessie Frémont, Ulysses and Julia Grant, George and Ellen McClellan, and Charles and Lavinia Stratton (better known to the public as Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb).