You can't walk onto the Monitor but they have a full size replica, complete with dents from its battle with the Merrimac.
There is also a plate of iron from the Monitor.
To the right is the USS Hartford.
On the Hartford:
The CSS Jackson was built in Columbus but when the city was captured in 1865 the ship war burned. In 1961 it was raised from the Chattahoochee River for the Centennial. The museum has built a framework that hangs over the remains so that you can see the outline of what the ship would have been.
Its a dark picture but these are the propellers.
One can also walk onto the CSS Albemarle. On the night of October 27, 1864 Union Lieutenant William Cushing led an expedition to destroy the ship as it sat at the dock at Plymouth, North Carolina. They were successful and Cushing earned the Thanks of Congress. There is a good book about him, Lincoln's Commando by Charles Van Doren (of quiz show fame).
The museum also has a scale model of the Albemarle.
One thing I really found interesting in the Albemarle display was that you got a good view of the layers of wood and iron plates.
Its a dark picture but these are the propellers.
One can also walk onto the CSS Albemarle. On the night of October 27, 1864 Union Lieutenant William Cushing led an expedition to destroy the ship as it sat at the dock at Plymouth, North Carolina. They were successful and Cushing earned the Thanks of Congress. There is a good book about him, Lincoln's Commando by Charles Van Doren (of quiz show fame).
The museum also has a scale model of the Albemarle.
One thing I really found interesting in the Albemarle display was that you got a good view of the layers of wood and iron plates.
Did you get a chance to go to the Fort Benning Infantry Museum while you were Columbus?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the fantastic post on the National Civil War Naval Museum. I need to attend a wedding in Georgia in November and I will certainly get the time to visit the museum. How much time do I need to devote for a comprehensive tour?
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteYes I did, check out my post from July 30th
Larry,
I would say a few hours should be good. I see from their website that the Water Witch is now complete, and I'm pretty sure you can tour it. That is a ship they built on site, that might be an hour right there.
Great post! I was in that area of Georgia recently. I did all the FDR stuff around Warm Springs. I didn't have time to go down to Columbus. From your post and pictures the museum looks truly awesome. I really have to go see the museum soon. I have heard all my life how great it is.
ReplyDeleteChris