This article ran on the Pennsylvania wire of the Associated Press, and was picked up across Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 31, 2008.

PHILADELPHIA—Last chance, for a while at least, to see the head of Old Baldy—Gen. George Meade's horse.

Old Baldy is the best-known artifact at the Civil War & Underground Railroad Museum, which is shutting down at close of business Saturday to relocate and won't reopen until 2010.

Its new home will be in the former First Bank of the United States, the nation's central bank until the early 19th century.

Workers moving Old Baldy must take special care because the head was treated with mercury and arsenic, a common taxidermy practice in the 19th century designed to prevent insect damage.

The museum's book collection is being turned over to the Union League of Philadelphia under a stewardship agreement. The museum will still own the books, but the Union League will integrate them into a Civil War history collection.

The museum will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in its last day at 1805 Pine St. Admission will be free.

The following story aired on KYW NewsRadio 1060 AM in Philadelphia on Aug. 2, 2008.

by KYW’s Hadas Kuznits

An amazing discovery is made at Philadelphia's Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum, as employees pack up for their move to a new building.

Though the Civil War was fought outside Philadelphia, the city was a hub of important union activity. As WHYY's Alex Schmidt reports, Philly's Museum dedicated to the war is getting ready to shut its doors for a couple years. Listen to the mp3 »

The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum of Philadelphia, 1805 Pine St., will close to the public on Aug. 2, to begin packing in preparation for the move to a new location on Independence National Historical Park, in the First Bank of the United States building.

The collection will be stored until renovations are completed and new exhibits designed for the museum, which will open in 2010.

The interesting and complicated task of packing a museum collection - which includes the head of Gen. Meade's horse - begins Aug. 4.

- The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jun. 28, 2008