National Civil War Naval Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Port Columbus
National Civil War Naval Museum

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Established	1962
Location	1002 Victory Drive Columbus, Georgia United States
Type	American Civil War Naval

The National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia, United States, is a huge museum. It covers about 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meters). This museum shows parts of two Confederate States Navy ships. You can also see uniforms, gear, and weapons. These items were used by both the Union (Northern) Navy and the Confederate (Southern) Navy. It is said to be the only museum in the country that tells the story of both navies during the American Civil War.

How the Museum Started
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The U.S.S./C.S.S. Water Witch Project
Other Activities at Port Columbus
Images for kids
See also

How the Museum Started

The museum first opened in 1962. It was located at 202 4th Street in Columbus. Back then, it was called the "James W. Woodruff, Jr., Confederate Naval Museum." It was named after James W. Woodruff, Jr., who gave money to make the museum possible.

In 1970, it was known as the Confederate Naval Museum. At that time, two ships, the C.S.S. Muscogee and C.S.S. Chattahoochee, were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Architects from Columbus designed a special cover for these salvaged ships.

In March 2001, the museum moved to its current location. This new building cost eight million dollars. With the move, it got a new name. This new name shows that it now features exhibits from both the Union and Confederate navies.

What You Can See: Museum Exhibits

The main attraction at the museum is the hull of the C.S.S. Jackson. This ship is also known as C.S.S. Muscogee. It was a new type of ironclad warship that was set on fire. Union Army troops found it in the Chattahoochee River in the 1960s. The hull is about 180 feet (55 meters) long.

You can also see what's left of the C.S.S. Chattahoochee. Another cool item is a complete rowboat from the U.S.S. Hartford. This was the famous ship of Admiral David Farragut. He used it during the naval Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.

Models and Recreations

The museum has models of famous warships. These include the U.S.S. Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia. The Virginia was once the U.S.S. Merrimack. These models were used in the 1991 movie Ironclads.

You can also see full-size parts of other Civil War warships. These include sections of Admiral David Farragut's U.S.S. Hartford. You can explore the berth deck, wardroom, and captain's cabin.

Interactive Experiences

The museum offers a battle experience theater. This theater makes visitors feel like they are in the middle of a Civil War battle. There is also an interactive simulator. It lets you experience 19th-century naval combat. You can pretend to be on a Confederate ironclad ship.

Civil War Naval Flags

A large exhibit of Civil War naval flags is a new addition. The museum's director, Bruce Smith, says it's the biggest display of navy flags from that time. Fourteen flags are shown in this exhibit. They represent ships and forts from the entire Civil War. The exhibit is called "Ramparts to Topmast: Flags of Triumph and Despair."

One special flag was hidden for 137 years. A family from Ohio helped bring it to the museum. On July 22, 1862, the C.S.S. Arkansas was attacked. It was in the harbor on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Two Union Navy ships attacked it in the dark. A civilian engineer named John P. Skelton jumped onto the Arkansas. He tore down its flag. He then hid the flag in a barrel of beans on his own ship. After the war, Skelton took the flag home to Ohio. It stayed there until 1999. His family then sent the flag back. Now, it is proudly displayed at the museum.

Brooke Rifled Cannons

The museum also has the largest collection of Brooke rifled naval cannons. These cannons were made in Confederate factories. They were built in Selma, Alabama. There are four cannons: two 7-inch rifles, one 10-inch smoothbore, and one 11-inch smoothbore. The 11-inch smoothbore is the biggest Brooke cannon still existing.

The U.S.S./C.S.S. Water Witch Project

In 2009, the museum built a full-size copy of the U.S.S./C.S.S. Water Witch. They used the ship's original drawings. This replica was over 160 feet (49 meters) long. Its masts were almost 90 feet (27 meters) tall. It was a famous sight in Columbus. The replica was made from untreated wood. Over time, it started to fall apart. It was taken down in October 2019.

The original Water Witch was a Union Navy ship. It was blocking the port outside Savannah, Georgia. In 1864, a Confederate States Navy team captured it. An African-American Confederate pilot, Moses Dallas, helped lead the raid. The Water Witch then served the Confederacy. So, this ship was used by both sides during the war.

Other Activities at Port Columbus

The museum hosts many special events. These include an annual meeting, summer camps, and living history programs. You can also rent out the museum's galleries. People use them for weddings and business meetings.

Images for kids

River Campaign Fleets mural
Green Water Fleets Mural
Deep Water Fleets mural

National Civil War Naval Museum facts for kids

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