USS Hartford

Shipboard Life

Flagship

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 on display and are frequently used in living history activities at the museum.

Berth Deck

This was the deck below the main deck and is where the enlisted sailors slept. It was to be kept absolutely clean during the days and occupied only with hammocks during the nights.

Ward Room

This room was located in the center of the ship and was used as the dining room for all the junior officers, whose cabins opened into the ward room. It was also used as the surgeon’s workplace during combat since it was the only room with a large table in most ships. This tradition continues in today’s navy in smaller ships.

An annual Cool History: Civil War Surgery event is held here each July to demonstrate the methods of shipboard doctors and surgeons during the Civil War.

Captain’s Cabin

Often a suite on larger ships, the captains quarters consisted of a sleeping/living area and an office/dining area. The latter section is recreated here.

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USS Hartford, with original ship's cutter in foreground	Filming for the Discovery Channel Documentary on Cushing's mission to sink the Albemarle in the Berth Deck	Medical Cool History: CW Naval Surgery Demonstration in the Wardroom
Filming for the Discovery Channel Documentary on Cushing's mission to sink the Albemarle in the Captain's Cabin	Wardroom decorated for Christmas	Berth Deck