Put on your detective cap, sip a cocktail, and learn about local history at this month’s Culture & Cocktails!

Join us on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 PM, as Vernell Doyle and Laura Marfut present a historical lecture, “The Missing Garnet Jex Painting and the Battle of Ball’s Bluff.”

The WCHS is excited to host Vernell Doyle from the Sharpsburg Historical Society and Laura Marfut from the Antietam Institute as they dive into a mystery for both art lovers and Civil War history buffs! This talk delves into the work of Garnet Jex (1895-1979), an American painter who created 51 watercolor paintings of the Civil War, and his missing painting! Vernell Doyle shares her story of searching for the painting and its discovery, and Laura Marfut discusses the painting’s context.

Culture & Cocktails is generously sponsored by the James & Mary Schurz Foundation. C&C is held on the second Friday of each month from 6:00-8:00 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Refreshments and one complimentary drink ticket are included with each ticket.

This month’s cocktail is the Sherry Cobbler, a popular 19th century drink that combines sherry and citrus over crushed ice.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the WCHS Offices at (301) 797-8782 or by visiting the Eventbrite link at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culture-cocktails-the-missing-garnet-jex-painting-tickets-1980738201280?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl.