The American Civil War Museum’s (ACWM) new two-week Summer Institute Emancipation and Evolving American Identity will bring three dozen K-12 teachers to a deeper understanding of the history of emancipation and its impact on Americans past and present. Civil War-era scholars will contextualize the policy and process of emancipation through lectures, discussions, and visits to historic sites. Additionally, public history professionals and experienced K-12 educators will provide primary sources and model best practices for teaching an often complex, sensitive, and misunderstood topic.