John Gibney is a recognized expert in history, having managed five historic sites and taught numerous history courses. He has extensive experience in Civil War reenacting and living history programs, having participated in major films and given over 5,000 programs. Gibney's expertise is also in natural history and he has received several awards for his historical exhibits, dioramas, and work to preserve battlefields in Michigan.

1. Gibney presenting representing the State of Michigan on Little Round Top at 150th Anniversary of Gettysburg
Press Release: Bio, Meet Mr. Gibney
John Gibney is the former Director of Monroe County Historical Museums. In that capacity, he managed five
historic sites and was instrumental in developing the River Raisin National Battlefield, Michigan’s only major
battlefield in the War of 1812. He was an adjunct Instructor in the Graduate Historic Preservation Program at
Eastern Michigan University, and a Civil War Instructor at Washtenaw Community College. He has given over
5,000 living history programs to schools and historical organizations.
A recognized expert in natural history, Mr. Gibney has taught classes in Outdoor Science, Ecology, and Survival
techniques for many years. He worked for Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources at Island Lake State
Park and ran the Michigan DNR’s Adventure Ranger Program at Hayes State Park where he gave over one
hundred different outdoors themed programs to park visitors.
A Civil War reenacter since 1960, John participated in the filming of the movies Gettysburg, Glory, and Gods &
Generals. He has also been involved with numerous radio & TV documentaries including I-Michigan’s
exceptional PBS series on Michigan in the Civil War and Michigan Radio’s “Stateside with Cynthia Canty”. He
was a founder of the Ann Arbor Civil War Round Table, and has delivered living history programs for the State
of Michigan’s Save the Flags Task Force and the Civil War Preservation Trust, for the past twenty-five years.
John's expertise in diorama construction has won several national awards. His exhibits have been displayed at
many museums. His diorama of Peeble's Farm is on permanent display in the Civil War Collections on the second
floor of the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing. His exhibits have been featured at the University of
Michigan, Washtenaw Community College, and Eastern Michigan University.

2. Peeble’s Farm Exhibit in the Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing
In 1999, 2001, and 2002, Mr. Gibney was the recipient of the Excellence in Living History Award from the
Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. He was the 1999 State of Michigan Staff Member of the Year for the Michigan Adult
and Community Education Association. He received the National Citizenship Education Award from the
Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2000 and was recognized as the VFW’s Michigan State Secondary Teacher of the
Year for 2000-2001. In May of 2005, the State of Michigan voted a legislative tribute for John, in his father’s
name, for his involvement in the preservation of Michigan Battle flags. In June of that year, John was named as
a reenacter liaison with the Civil War Preservation Trust.
As excitement over the River Raisin Battlefield and the coming of the 200th anniversary of the conflict grew, Mr.
Gibney founded the 1812 Site Director’s Group with professionals from historic sites in Ontario, Ohio, and
Mackinac State Parks. He was unanimously elected Co-Chair Monroe County Humanities Economic
Development Summit Parks in Michigan in 2007, and Co-Chair Monroe County 1812 Bicentennial Steering
Committee in 2008. Partnering with the Monroe Intermediate School District, he delivered 1812 and Civil War
programs that helped win the CNN Cable in the Classroom in 2008. In 2010, in preparation for the Civil War
Sesquicentennial, John formed Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial History Partners Steering Group,
coordinating the professional Museums and Civil War Roundtables activities in Michigan. The United States
Attorney General’s Office awarded him the US Department of Justice, “Certificate of Appreciation” for National
Black History Month. That year he also received the State Award for Preservation for saving the River Raisin
Battlefield, presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mr. Gibney has been a consultant for I-Michigan’s exceptional PBS series on Michigan in the Civil War and served
as a Michigan representative for 150th Civil War events at Gettysburg, Shiloh, Chattanooga, Vicksburg, Nashville,
Atlanta, and Andersonville.