Civil War Naval Timeline

They had navies too?

The timeline exhibit begins with a comparison of the US and Confederate Navies showing totals of ships and men in each of the organizations along with details concerning training, organization and Marines.

Timeline exhibits take the visitor month by month through the war showing naval events and features many of the museum’s most rare artifacts such as the uniform coat of the skipper of the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) worn the day he fought the Monitor, and Admiral Farragut’s two-star hat insignia.

Exquisitely detailed Models of many famous Civil War ships are on the timeline including the CSS David, CSS Albemarle and the CSS Atlanta, which is located just opposite the huge 25-foot long flag that was captured on that ship.

Across from the timeline is the Civil War navy flag exhibit at Port Columbus, entitled, “Ramparts to Topmast: Flags of Triumph and Despair.” This exhibit is the largest of its type in the nation and features flags from Forts Jackson and St. Phillip which were defending New Orleans for the Confederacy and a boat flag from the CSS Tennessee, captured at the Battle of Mobile Bay.