Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

[Dispatch]

I'm planning an all out trip to hit as many Civil War battlefields as I can in about a months time. Other than the one in Gettysburg and The Museum Of Confederacy in Richmond, VA, what and where are the biggest and best Civil War museums in the entire country?

[Coatsy]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Steve, Go to the Atlanta History Center in Midtown ATL. You'll see some items that have been featured in Echoes of Glory. Just follow the signs to "The Turning Point" exhibit.

Also, the firearms exhibit at Chickamauga NPS is great too. Tell Lee White "hello" while you there too.

[maillemaker]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Well, I've only been to one, but the Chickamauga battlfield is nice, with tons of monuments erected by participating battle groups during the living memory of those who participated. As you drive along the battle roads the monuments give you a good idea of exactly where, and how close, people were.

And it has a fantastic, amazing, massive rifle collection at the visitor's center.

[Dispatch]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Well, I've only been to one, but the Chickamauga battlfield is nice, with tons of monuments erected by participating battle groups during the living memory of those who participated. As you drive along the battle roads the monuments give you a good idea of exactly where, and how close, people were.

And it has a fantastic, amazing, massive rifle collection at the visitor's center.

But do they have a museum? I looked on there web site and didn't see one.

http://www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm

[PieBoy96]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

An often overlooked one is White Oak Museum outside Fredericksburg, VA (about 5 miles off I-95). It's basically all the stuff that DP Newton and his father have excavated over 30+ years from the 1862-3 winter huts sites throughout Stafford County. Wanna see an original corduroy road, a dug knit sack coat, and an original FULL box of ammunition? DP's knowledge of the area's CW history is jaw-dropping, and he has documentation of all his excavations. Many of the sites he has hunted are now developments and Wal-Marts, so without his efforts, those relics would have been lost. It's not a huge sprawling museum, but if you like "stuff" and plenty of it, this is well worth a visit and $4. Just talking with DP is worth a visit alone.

http://www.whiteoakmuseum.com/

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Chickamauga has an excellent display of CW era firearms in a separate exhibition area in the Visitor's Center. Coatsy is correct that the Atlanta History Center is a "must see!" I was just there , for the umpteenth time, last week and I always see something that I missed on previous trips. There is an adjacent exhibit of then-and-now showing Atlanta's Civil War sites "then" and what they look like now.

[Dispatch]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

An often overlooked one is White Oak Museum outside Fredericksburg, VA (about 5 miles off I-95). It's basically all the stuff that DP Newton and his father have excavated over 30+ years from the 1862-3 winter huts sites throughout Stafford County. Wanna see an original corduroy road, a dug knit sack coat, and an original FULL box of ammunition? DP's knowledge of the area's CW history is jaw-dropping, and he has documentation of all his excavations. Many of the sites he has hunted are now developments and Wal-Marts, so without his efforts, those relics would have been lost. It's not a huge sprawling museum, but if you like "stuff" and plenty of it, this is well worth a visit and $4. Just talking with DP is worth a visit alone.

http://www.whiteoakmuseum.com/

Yes, this one seems to be a must see, I think.

[maillemaker]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

But do they have a museum? I looked on there web site and didn't see one.

As was noted, there is a huge display of rifles off of the vistor's center.

Steve

[Dispatch]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

I like the ones that let you preview the exhibits online. That way to have some idea of what to expect.

[LWhite64]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

We do have a museum, although we don't have a whole lot other than the 346 weapon Fuller Gun Collection. Which covers the history of American Military Firearms from the Colonial Era up to the Eve of World War I, (Guess how often I say that?) Now in the other part of the museum we do have some cool items including General August Willich's sword, the sword of Maj. Axala Hoole of the 8th SC who was killed on Snodgrass Hill, also the lap desk of Colonel Philamon Baldwin, 6th Indiana, killed at Chickamauga and several other cool items. But the Fuller Collection is the crown jewel of the collection.

[Silas]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Bang for the buck, you'll have a hard time beating the White Oak Museum east of Fredericksburg, VA. It's generally on the route between Gettysburg and Richmond.

On that same route, you'll find the under visited North Anna battlefield which is a gem. Nice walk in the woods. Great interpretative markers. Original works. Not many people out there.

[Dispatch]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Bang for the buck, you'll have a hard time beating the White Oak Museum east of Fredericksburg, VA. It's generally on the route between Gettysburg and Richmond.

On that same route, you'll find the under visited North Anna battlefield which is a gem. Nice walk in the woods. Great interpretative markers. Original works. Not many people out there.

Sounds good!

http://www.nps.gov/frsp/nanna.htm

[Phil McBride]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

The Texas Civil War Museum on the west side of Ft Worth is not exactly in the midst of the CW battlefields, but it houses a treasure trove of "stuff." Very few, if any, story telling posters or slideshows, but lots of uniforms, equipment, weapons and flags. The museum opened a few years back for a fellow in the oil business to display his vast collection. It now displays other items on loan and flags owned by the Texas Daughters of the Confederacy. Unsurprisingly, the collection focuses on Texas Confederates, but there are ample Union artifacts there as well.

Phil McBride
The Alamo Rifles

[Dispatch]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

Texas, ah? Hadn't though of that.

[JRicci]

Re: Biggest And Best Civil War Museums?

I would say with your question about the "biggest and best", that quality beats quantity. If I were you I would check out Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans.
Joe Ricci