Exhibits & Events | Columbus | National Civil War Naval Museum

Exhibits

The exhibit begins with a comparison of the United States and Confederate Navies showing totals of ships and sailors along with details concerning training and organization. It then takes the visitor month by month through the war showing naval events, and features many of the museum's most rare artifacts. Detailed models of many famous Civil War ships are on display including the CSS Atlanta which is located just opposite the huge 25-foot long flag that was captured on the actual ship.

The scene is Plymouth, NC in October, 1864, as we see the famous Confederate ironclad, CSS Albemarle sitting dockside. The ship is open to view both inside and out; a rare opportunity to get a glimpse inside a unique craft. The Albemarle is a classic Confederate Navy design, with a diamond hull and armored casemate. It was 150 feet long and carried two 6.4-inch Brooke Rifles mounted fore and aft, each able to pivot and shoot out of its three gunports.

This steam and sail powered gunboat was built in Saffold, Georgia. In May of 1863, she suffered a boiler explosion near Blountstown, Florida in the Apalachicola River killing 19 crewmen. The ship was brought to Columbus in January of 1864 and underwent repairs. She was stationed at the Navy Yard in Columbus and was sunk by her own Confederate Navy Officers in April, 1865, to keep the ship from falling into Union hands.

This display represents the largest collection of original Civil War Naval-related flags in the country.

The Confederate Naval Shipyard in Columbus produced the CSS Jackson, one of the largest of the ironclads built in the South. Sitting dockside when Union Cavalry captured Columbus in 1865, it was torched and set adrift. After resting in the Chattahoochee River, it was raised in 1961. Columbus businessman J.W. Woodruff, led local efforts to fund and conduct the excavation and recovery of the wreck which became the centerpiece of the museum. The display gallery is named in his honor.

The USS Hartford, flagship of the US Navy’s first admiral, Admiral David Farragut, is replicated in part at Port Columbus to demonstrate daily navy life to museum visitors. It was on board this ship that Admiral Farragut famously dammned the torpedoes at the Battle of Mobile Bay. A recreated berth deck, wardroom and captain’s cabin are displayed and are frequently used in living history at the museum.

The USS Monitor was revolutionary in warship design with an armored rotating turret to house the cannons. It also had a low deck presenting a small profile above the waterline. The turret is replicated in life size detail in the exhibit.

This display represents the largest collection of original Civil War Naval-related flags in the country.

News & Upcoming Events

Paul Letter Collection

Additional letters from the Paul Collection are now on exhibit. George S. Paul was an Engineer in the US Navy during the Civil War. The letters currently on display date from June through September 1863. He writes about his experience while serving on the USS Paul Jones from St. Simons, GA to Charleston Harbor, SC to Brooklyn, NY. Visit the museum and see Paul’s firsthand accounts of naval bombardment, onboard living conditions, and wartime news.

RiverBlast2021

Join us for our 20th anniversary celebration. This living history festival will feature Civil War reenactors, cannon firings, live entertainment, food trucks, craft vendors, and museum tours. FREE admission to the grounds and museum both days!

When: May 1 & 2, 2021

Want to be involved as a vendor or reenactor group? Please click the link below for contact form:

Vendor>

Reenactor Group>

Artifact Conservation Project

Thank you for your continued support as we get aboard on what is possibly the most important project since the opening of the new museum facility in 2001. As a flashback reminder, for many reasons, parts of the two vessels in our care, the ironclad Jackson and the hybrid gunboat Chattahoochee, could not be moved inside the museum when the ships’ hulls were moved to the new facility. After many ups and downs, that major conservation work is underway.

Read more here...>

Online Content

Can't visit the museum in person just yet? No problem, visit our YouTube channel for guest lectures, episodes of Curator's Corner, and the fun series Navy Lingo. Enjoy from anywhere and subscribe for new videos added often.

Watch here...>

Georgia Humanities

The museum has been awarded a grant from Georgia Humanities to partially fund ongoing operations during the global pandemic. The Museum is one of seventy-seven organizations that offers humanities programming to Georgians that received such funding. We appreciate the efforts of Georgia Humanities to help us and others through these uncertain times.

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

Exhibits

News & Upcoming Events

"If you have any interest in the Civil War this will help fill in a missing part."

...museum visitor, Google review