New Civil War Naval Center Opens In Columbus, Ga.

COLUMBUS, Ga. - More than 10,000 visitors attended the grand opening of the Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum on March 9-12.

Highlighting the museum's interpretive scheme are the remaining hulls of two Confederate warships, both recovered from the Chattahoochee River in the early 1960s. The 225-foot ironclad ram CSS Jackson and gunboat CSS Chattahoochee have now been moved into an indoor environment and placed in dramatic settings to best tell their stories.

Dignitaries attending the opening ceremonies included Gov. Roy Barnes, Dr. William Dudley, Director of Naval History at the Washington Navy Yard, and Civil War naval historian Dr. Bill Still.

More than 70 sea service reenactors helped bring many of the museum's interpretive settings to life. These include reconstructed replica portions of the USS Hartford, USS Monitor and CSS Albemarle. Sailors manned the berthdeck of the Hartford demonstrating the making of hammocks while three naval doctors occupied the ward room and other officers were doing duty in the captain's cabin.

A highlight of the weekend was the firing of the original 7-inch Brooke Rifle overlooking the river. Reenactor crews also fired an original 12 pdr. Dalhgren Boat Howitzer throughout the weekend. The 8th Regiment Brass Band and the 97th Regimental String Band gave concerts.

The museum features a number of significant naval artifacts including the coat worn by the skipper of the CSS Virginia the day it fought the Monitor, the sea chest belonging to the executive officer of the famous raider CSS Alabama, and the hat and jacket of the U.S. Navy surgeon captured by Confederates at Fort Wagner. He witnessed discussion among Confederate officers who refused to return the body of 54th Massachusetts colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the white officer who led the black regiment.

The previously unknown 1st National flag from the CSS Arkansas is displayed. The 8 feet, 2 inch by 17 feet, 1 inch flag was captured from the Arkansas by a civilian engineer who was on board the Queen of the West when the ships engaged at Vicksburg on July 22, 1862. The flag was hidden, then taken to Ohio where it remained in the family until 1999.]

Visitors are treated to interactive exhibits that let them experience one of the most innovative periods in the country's naval history. The modern-day submarine, torpedo, electronic mine and aircraft carrier evolved from Civil War navy counterparts. On board the 87-foot-long replica CSS Albemarle a battle simulator recreates naval combat. An "ironclad simulator" places visitors inside an ironclad during combat episodes.

The schooner Virginia, thought to be a blockade runner built in Havana, Cuba, in 1865, will eventually be placed in a shipyard next to the museum (CWN October 2000). The shipyard is the next phase, which will begin almost immediately, according to Executive Director Bruce Smith. The shipyard will demonstrate period crafts required for boat and ship building.

The grand opening took place on the 139th anniversary of the battle between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor. The museum's two new buildings are in the South Commons area of Columbus half a mile to the east of the small former Confederate Naval Museum along the Chattahoochee River.

At nearly 40,000 square feet, the $8 million museum is one of the largest Civil War institutions in the country and the only one to feature the comprehensive story of the Civil War at sea. It houses one of the largest collections of Civil War navy artillery. Its two 7-inch Brooke rifles was recovered from the wreckage of the CSS Jackson
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The museum is open daily, except Christmas, from 9-5. Admission is $4.50 adults, $3.50 seniors and military, $3 students. Information is available at (706) 327-9798, www.portcolumbus.org.