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

Homeschool Saturday

A Sailor will bring history to life through hands-on demonstrations with a tour of our unique exhibits and exciting stories about the war on the water. This is a curriculum based program focusing on the history, science and technology of the Civil War navies. Tour lasts about two hours. Fun for students of all ages.

When: Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 1:00pm EST

Cost: general admission at the door

Reserve your spot and purchase discounted tickets online>

RiverBlast2021

Join us for our 20th anniversary celebration. This living history festival will feature Civil War re-enactors, 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 re-enactor group? Please click the link below for contact form:

Vendor>

Reenactor Group>

Mother's Day Victorian Tea

Please join us for a special Mother's Day Victorian Tea. We always have a great time, meet new friends, and learn some interesting things about this important time in history. Holly Wait, Executive Director, will provide an intriguing presentation, "Riotous Women" about the bread riots during the Civil War. As always, we will serve delicious scones, period petit fours along with hot tea and cool lemonade. The tea and program will last about 2 hours. Limited seats available. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

When: Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 1:00pm

Cost: $30 (includes cup & saucer)

Purchase tickets online>

Museum Collections Internship

The museum is seeking in-person interns for the Summer and Fall of 2021. The collections interns will gain experience in cataloguing the museum’s artifact collection, work with maritime artifacts, and museum collections management software.

Click here for more information>

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.

Steamboats Come to Georgia

Steam power certainly changed the economy of Georgia during the pre-war years. In the modern age of cars, it is easy to forget that before the automobile the rivers were the great highways of movement.

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