Exhibits
News & Upcoming Events
Cool History Summer Programs
This June and July is a perfect time to visit the museum. Take a break from the heat of summer and cool off with some history! Our daily programs offer something for everyone from a fun day for the family to the serious history enthusiast.
Members Monday – Members take a guided walk through the museum. Experience the stories that your support brings to the public. This tour is complimentary for members, guests of members pay a discounted admission of $5. Call ahead to make a reservation, 706-221-1782
Tours on Tuesday – Visit the museum for stories that you will hear nowhere else. Take a guided tour of the museum and explore our unique exhibits. Tours are open to the public, start at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm and last about an hour. Cost: General Admission
Lunch and Learn Thursday – Bring your lunch and stop by the museum for an interesting deep dive discussion about the Civil War navies. Program starts at noon and lasts about an hour. BYOF, Cost: General Admission
Family Fun Friday - How did Sailors in the Civil War communicate ship to ship? How did those big, heavy ships float? Discover the answers to these and other questions when you join Sailor Sam for a special program that includes hands-on activities and educational experiences. This program is for students of all ages, starts at 11:00am and lasts about an hour. Cost: General Admission
Super Duper Special Family Fun Saturday
Take a below decks tour of our unique exhibits. See a black powder weapons demonstration. Make something to take home with a Captain's Craft activity. Don't forget your camera for Silly Sailor Dress Up Photos. Program lasts about 2 hours.
*Ticket required for each participant regardless of age. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not refundable.
When: Select Saturdays in June and July @ 10:00am
Cost: $15 + tax
Summer Guest Lecture
Keith Hebert - Alexander Stephens's Cornerstone Speech and the Lost Cause
Alexander Stephens delivered his famous Cornerstone Speech on March 21, 1861—one month after his appointment as vice president of the Confederacy—asserting that slavery and white supremacy comprised the cornerstone of the Confederate States of America. Hébert illustrates the complexity of Stephens’s legacy meticulously tracing how this speech, still widely cited in the age of Black Lives Matter, reverberated in the nation’s consciousness during Reconstruction, through the early twentieth century, and in debates about the commemoration of the Civil War that lives on in the headlines today.
Keith Hebert is the Draughon Associate Professor of Southern History at Auburn University. He received a PhD in History from Auburn University. He is the author of several books including Cornerstone of the Confederacy: Alexander Stephens and the Speech that Defined the Lost Cause (University of Tennessee Press, 2021). Hebert is a Georgia native who currently lives in Prattville, Alabama.
When: Thursday, June 15 @ 7pm
Cost: FREE and open to the public
You can purchase the book online at these links: utpress> or Amazon>
Independence Day Celebration
Come celebrate the 4th of July at the museum with special discounted admission. Enjoy hot dogs and cool drinks served at noon (while supplies last) followed by a live cannon firing at 1pm. Guided tours will be offered throughout the day.
When: Tuesday, July 4
Cost: $5 + tax
Volunteer Meetup
Interested in history? Like meeting new people? Have some time to volunteer? This is your perfect opportunity. The museum is looking for volunteers to serve as tour guides and guest services representatives. Scheduling is flexible and no extensive knowledge of Civil War naval history is necessary. Training will be provided. Attend a meet-up and see if this is a good fit for you.
When: First Monday of the month @ 1:00pm
RSVP appreciated but not required
The Ladies' Gunboat
War creates strange situations. As the need to fight a war evolves, the society that engages in war has to adjust to the reality of conflict. One such situation is the Civil War and the Confederacy’s ironclads. While the technological advancements and the stories of the men who fought them drive the ways that we tell the history of the ironclads, we tend to forget that women played a role in ironclad production.
Read more here...>
