Whether it is Academic Decathlon or Battle of the Books or a homeschool spelling bee, the thrill of intellectual challenge and conquest in middle school and high school is sweet. It’s sweet as a grown-up, too. Thursday, Jan. 24, history buffs and trivia fans of all ages will have a chance to test their chops at the Museum of the Cape Fear’s 18th annual Civil War & Reconstruction Quiz Bowl. It will be held in the Pate Room of Headquarters Library and begins at 7 p.m.

Leisa Greathouse, curator of education for the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, organizes the event and creates the questions each year.

“There is no age requirement,” she said. “Anyone of any age who would like to participate is welcome to do so.” A maximum of 15 contestants can take part; this is a change from previous years’ cap of 20 contestants.

The quiz bowl features 150 questions plus a few extra in case any are contested. In another departure from the past format, gameplay will be organized by rounds instead of categories.

One round consists of each contestant answering one question. Then the next round starts, with those contestants who answered incorrectly in the previous round having a strike.

“Three strikes and you’re out!” Greathouse said. “At the end of each round, we will look at the scoreboard and get to see just how close the contest might be. We will continue with rounds until a winner emerges, which is the last person without three strikes.”

Contestants will encounter questions about people, battles and events surrounding the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. There will be questions with images accompanying them, as well as multiple choice and true-or-false questions.

All ages will compete together in the one event, but winners will be crowned for an adult category (age 17 and up) and a youth category (age 16 and under). Winners will be the last adult standing and the last youth standing. Each winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.

This event serves as both a fun community-builder and a way to emphasize the importance of understanding and reflecting on our nation’s history. It’s been well-received and well-loved for many years. “Some of the contestants who began competing at 11 and 12 years old are now competing as adults,” Greathouse said.

The quiz bowl is especially relevant as the Museum of the Cape Fear continues to transition into the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruction History Center, a project with roots that trace back to 2007 but that picked up speed in the past few years.

The new center, according to nccivilwarcenter.org, aims to be “a teaching museum rather than a collecting museum.” It will be the first state museum in the U.S. to provide an interpretation of the Civil War and its aftermath from the perspective of an entire state — which will include perspectives that represent all walks of life and political and social affiliations.

Call Greathouse at 910-500-4243 to register in advance. If there is still room the night of the quiz bowl, contestants can sign up at the door.

The Civil War & Reconstruction Quiz Bowl is free and open to the public. Headquarters Library is located at 300 Maiden Ln. in downtown Fayetteville.