Mercy Street

Now that the second season of Mercy Street is over, find out which character is most like you! Are you knowledgeable like Samuel or compassionate like Emma? Hardworking like Mary or mischievous like Hale?

In the wake of the Battle of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation, the lives of the characters of Mercy Street change drastically in this finale, as some undertake journeys and some decide to stay put.

During this week off from Mercy Street, before the finale of season two airs on Sunday, March 5 at 7:00 pm, catch up on everything we've posted about the gripping Civil War drama.

Some people exploit the suffering of the war for their own advantage, while others strive only to alleviate pain and end the conflict. Where do the denizens of Alexandria fall?

The author of Heroines of Mercy Street discusses the determination and accomplishments of female Civil War nurses, the importance of writing about women in history, and her broad historical interests.

Actor Gary Cole began his career in the small experimental theaters of Chicago, became famous for roles like the bureaucratic monster Bill Lumbergh, and now plays the patriarch of the Green family on Mercy Street.

Being a decent person in this war is dangerous. Being a woman just adds to the difficulty, but the women of Alexandria don't let that stop them from helping their side.

Lisa Q. Wolfinger, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of  Mercy Street, talks about the stories behind the series, the importance of history, and the difficulties of creating an elaborate period drama.

Changes of heart abound in this episode as characters are thrust into trying circumstances and witness events that cause them to begin to question their loyalties. 

The characters all take some decisive actions: Alice's rebel work embroils the entire Green family in a dire situation, and Jimmy takes charge; McBurney attempts to assert authority, but Jed stands up to him; Nurse Hastings sidles up to McBurney in order to gain more power in Mansion House; and Samuel makes a moral choice.

The costumes on Mercy Street are fantastic, with impressive attention to historical detail. Huge hoop skirts, silk dresses, and wool suits all give the eye a break from the gore of the surgeries at Mansion House. 

During the Civil War, many freed slaves moved to Chicago, swelling the black population from around 600 at the beginning of the decade to 3,691 in 1870. A black professional class began to emerge while new churches and communities were built. 

Following Lincoln's visit to Mansion House, the hospital is full of new intrigue. The staff work to save Bullen while Frank works to hide evidence of his involvement in an assassination attempt-and that evidence includes the steward. 

When Mercy Street returns Sunday, January 22 at 7:00 pm, several new characters will arrive at Mansion House. A former slave turned activist, a self-assured detective, a dashing French anatomy artist, and a rigid army officer all help to shake things up. 

In advance of the premiere of the second season of PBS's original Civil War drama Mercy Street and of the airing of a documentary about Lincoln's assassination, revisit the story of a man who built a working replica of the funeral train that carried Lincoln's body from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois.