MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Before cell phones, twitter and email, people actually wrote letters — and hundreds of them are part of a new exhibit at the Minnesota History Center.

The exhibit’s called “Minnesota and the Civil War.”

Hundreds of letters between loved ones are on display there, including correspondence between Madison Boler and his wife.

Museum director Dan Spock said he was very patriotic, and loved serving.

“His wife as we’ve learned from his letters, rather resented this. She felt that his place was in the home in helping her running the farm, which was a huge responsibility even if he was there,” Spock said.

The exhibit runs through Sept. 8.