Good CW Museums in NC?

[LibertyHallVols]

Hey, folks!

I'm going to be around Asheville and Raleigh pretty soon and I was wondering if there were any good Civil War museums in the area I could check out.

Thanks!

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

How about the North Carolina Museum of History? Too bad you weren't there this time a year ago, when they had their Civil War in North Carolina exibit up still.

http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/

You could possibly also hit up the Bennet Place. It's right off if I-85. This was the site of the largets surrender of CS forces (Johnson's Army surrender to Sherman). I drove by the exit for 4 years before shooting in right before closing one afternoon. They were friendly enough, allowed me to watch their film (after park hours) and tour the museum and grounds. There's not much to it, but they were glad to have a visitor.

http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/bennett/bennett.htm

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

What's your schedule? The Ft. Fisher/ Ft. Anderson driving and ferry loop is great if you can find the time. Both facilities have upgraded their displays.

Bentonville has a great field tour but not many artifacts at the visitors center.

http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/default.htm

Wilmington has a big damn metal ship but I cant remember from what era.

[Private Longshanks]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

John,

If you're coming into Raleigh from Asheville (or vice versa), stop by Greensboro and go to the Greensboro Historical Museum. They have Dr. John Murphy's extensive collection of Confederate firearms. Very nice. You could also try to make it to Bentonville. It's only about a 30-45 minute ride from Raleigh.

http://www.greensborohistory.org/exhibits/collector.htm

Regards,

[KevinBarnes]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

What's your schedule? The Ft. Fisher/ Ft. Anderson driving and ferry loop is great if you can find the time. Both facilities have upgraded their displays.

Bentonville has a great field tour but not many artifacts at the visitors center.

http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/default.htm

Wilmington has a big damn metal ship but I cant remember from what era.

These are great suggestions and Bentonville is not too far from Raleigh. Be sure to check out the Greensboro Historical Muesum. They have a large collection of confederate weapons. http://www.greensborohistory.org/exhibits/collector.htm
If you can make it down to the eastern part of our state, consider Ft Macon in Atlantic Beach, about 3 hour drive from Raleigh.

[Jim Mayo]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

Wilmington has a big damn metal ship but I cant remember from what era.

Isn't that the USS North Carolina, a WWII battle ship? It's been a while (20+Years) since I went on it but I believe that is what it is. Seems like they also have a WWII sub tied up along side.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

Yeah thats the one. The North Carolina. No sub berthed there though.

I can actually see her from my office window. John asked about CW sites only but I couldn't help sneaking her on the list.

The Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington houses the old Blockade Runner Museum collection. The Bellamy House is worth a peek too. http://www.bellamymansion.org/

The Museum of the Cape Fear in Fayetteville is on the old arsenal site. There are some beautiful rifles are inside.

[floridawar]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

East of Raleigh in Kinston NC is the remains of the ironclad ram CSS Neuse with many artifacts, etc.

http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sectio...euse/neuse.htm

There is also a full scale replica of the Neuse in town:

http://www.cssneuseii.com/

More pictures:

http://www.cssneusefoundation.com/index.html

Work is afoot to provide the remains of the Neuse with a suitable museum home:

http://www.cssneuse.net/index.html


James Marshall

[Spinster]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

Off the beaten path, but worth a phone call and a look, depending on what is currently available for viewing.

http://www.fortdefiancenc.org/index.htm

Fort Defiance is a home, not a 'fort', and interpeted as late 18th-early 19th century. The Lenoir family saved everything though, and the place remained in the family until turned to a trust in the 1960's.

The collection is large, especially when it comes to personal papers. Darling Daughter spent much of the last year transcribing mid-19th century papers, letters, and journals for only two members of this family of devoted corressponders.

[26NCT]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

The house at Fort Defiance is actually built on top of the site of an French & Indian War era fort. It was part of a string of forts built to protect the frontier at that time. There is a quilt stored there that is made from pieces of Confederate uniforms that veterans gave this family after the war.

Jonathan Hartness

[NC5thCav]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

There is a quilt stored there that is made from pieces of Confederate uniforms that veterans gave this family after the war.

That could be an interesting study in uniform colors.

[Army30th]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

Mr. Mayo,

The sub you might be referring to is at Patriot's Point in Charleston, SC

[Malingerer]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

The Vance birthplace is just outside of Asheville in Marshal and features the restored farm and birthplace of North Carolina's wartime governor Zebulon Vance.

[Jennifer T Wisener]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

Also, the North Carolina Civil War Trails system.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Good CW Museums in NC?

Thanks for the input, everyone! Here's a little trip report...

I got back from my trip this week. I was able to stop by the Kentucky Military History Museum and the North Carolina History Museum during my trip.

On the Kentucky museum...
It was a worthwhile stop. There were some very nice displays from the Revolution through Iraq, including some nice firearms displays and MoH displays on the second floor. Also, I think other museums could learn a thing or two from the way those folks have their firearms displayed. Several pieces are displayed in small, free standing cases, with the piece set next to a mirror, allowing close viewing of finishes and markings... a real treat for any collector. Typically, arms are shown in big wall-mounted displays, too far from the glass to view many details.

On the negative side...
There wasn't much Civil War stuff to view. While they have much more than most larger Indiana museums, the references to their collections in articles by Geoff Walden and others gave me hope that I might see some enlisted CS uniform items. However, none were on display.

On the NC museum...
Unfortunately, I was too late for the Civil War display and too early for the WW2 display (opens 9/18). They did have a couple of uniform items (including Pender's double breasted military sack, which featured slit pocket, similar to the "Kit" Williams frock in the lated MC&H).

However, they do have some very nice Revolutionary War items, and an impressive WW2 collection, including personal items from the bombardier of the Enola Gay. They also have some great displays weapons and other items from "Carbine" Williams.

Question for the Curators Out There...
I saw a number of WW2-era arms that had their serial numbers removed, as well as other markings (M1 Garand and Carbines with NO MARKINGS on the heal of the receiver - one Garand was an original early gas port example, probably made in the summer or fall of 1940!!). Is it a common practice to alter otherwise original arms this way? I was rather surprised/disturbed to see this.

(sorry for drifting off-topic)