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OTTUMWA -- History buffs caught a glimpse of Iowa in the Civil War. 

The state historical society has sponsored a trailer full of information on Iowa's role during the Civil War.  The trailer stopped in downtown Ottumwa Tuesday and Monday.  More than 500 people stopped by to read and learn about the Hawkeye state's important role in the war.

Visitors like Pam Kaupins learned a number of new things.

"Iowa was a very new state when the civil war happened and so the regiments that we had from Iowa, they were all first generations,” Kaupins said.  “I thought that that was interesting.  That was something that I didn't know before.”

The information also includes women’s roles in the battle for the union.  One of the unique things about the display is a computer that lets residents see what regiments their ancestors fought with during the war.

“You just put your ancestor and name into it and it’ll actually tell you from what county and where they were attached and some history.”

The display will continue to make stops throughout Iowa for the rest of the year.